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PERKINS  LIBRARY 

Duke   University 


Kare  books 


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WI  T  H      ;h  I  S  .      J     ^^    a^, 


V  I  T  H       H   I  S         • 

L  I  F  E. 

To   which   are  Added, 

MORALS     AND     REMARKS, 

A<:COMMODATED    TO    THE    YOUNGEST    CAPACITIES. 

By  ROBERT   BURTON  of   LONDON, 


The   little   knowledge,! 'have  gain'd, 
Was   all   from    fimp^le   Nature    drain'd. 

The   Shepha-d*  and  the   Philofopher,   by  Gay. 


,    P  H  f'L  AD  E  L  P  H  I  A: 
Printed  by    ROBERT     BEL  L,*  in  Third-Street. 
MDCCLXXVII. 


f  f 


ji 


■^' 


THE 

LIFE      OF      iESOP. 

WHAT  JEfop  was  by  birth,  authors  don't 
agree ;  but  that  he  was  in  a  mean  condi- 
tion, and  his  perfon  deformed  to  the 
higheft  degree,  is  what  many  affirm  :  he  was  flat- 
faced,  hunch-back'd,  blubber-lip'd,  jolt-headed; 
his  body  crooked  all  over,  big-belly *d,  baker- 
legg'd,  and  of  a  fwarthy  complexion.  But  the 
excellency  and  beauty  of  his  mind  made  a  fuffi- 
cient  atonement  for  the  outward  appearance  of  his 
perfon  :  for,  the  firft  account  we  have  of  him  in 
hiftory,  is.  That  being  fent  to  Ephefus,  in  com- 
pany with  other  flaves  to  be  fold,  his  maftcr  had 
a  great  many  burdens  to  carry,  and  JE(op  begged 
of  his  companions  not  to  overload  him  :  they 
found  him  a  weakling,'  and  bid  him  pleafe  him- 
felf.  The  parcel  that  he  pitched  upon  was  a 
pannier  of  bread,  twice  as  heavy  as  any  of  the  reft  : 
they  called  him  a  thoufand  fools  for  his  pains, 
and  fo  took  up  their  baggage,  and  away  they 
went*  About  noon,  they  had  their  dinner  out  of 
iEfop's  bafket,  which  made  his  burden  one  half 
lighter  in  the  afternoon  than  it  had  been  in  the 
morning,  and  after  the  next  meal  he  had  nothing 
to  carry  but  an  empty  bafket,  which  made  hil 
fellow-flaves  know  that  he  had  more  wit  than 
themfelves.  Upon  the  mafter's  arrival  at  Ephclus, 
he  foon  fold  off  all  his  flaves  but  JEiop,  and  the 
other  two,  whom  he  carried  to  bainos  as  the 
likeliefl:  place  for  a  chapman.     He  fl-^cwed  ihem 

in 


^ 


4 


The    life    of    ^SOP. 


in  the  open  market,  and  there  they  were   viewed 
by  one  Xanthus   an  eminent  philofopher  in    the 
city,    who    was  mightily    pleafed  with   the    two 
youths,  and   afked    them    what   they    could    do. 
The  one  faid,  he  could  do  every  thing,  which  fet 
^fop  a  laughing, ;  which   the   philofopher    per- 
ceiving,   aflced    what    he    could    do  ?    Nothing 
at   all,    fays  he.     How  copies  that,  fays  the  phi- 
lofopher?   My    companion,  fays    he,    undertakes 
every   thing  fo  there  is  nothing  left  for  me  to  do, 
"Which  gave  the  philofopher  to  underftand  he  was 
rio  fool  ;  fo  he  afked  the  merchant  his  loweft  price 
for  that  ill  favoured  fellow  ?  Why,  fays  he,  if  you'il 
give  me  my  price  for  the  other  two,  you  fhall  have 
him  into  the  bargain.     The  philofopher  immedi- 
ately pays  the  money,  and  takes  JEfop  along  with 
him  .    While  he  was  in  this  philofopher's  lervice, 
ieveral  things  happened  betwixt  them,  too  long  to 
be  mentioned  here  ;   only  I  cannot  omit   to  fpeak 
of -^fop's  ingenious  invention,  to  bring  his  miftrefs 
"back    again.     After   Xanthus's  flock  of  patience 
was  quite  fpent  in    bearing  with  her,  he  was   re- 
folved  to  ufe  feverity,  fmce  nothing  could  be  done 
by  kindncfs :  but  this  made  her  worfe,  and  away 
ibe  went.     Bad  as  fhe   was,  he  would    have  been 
glad  to  have  her  back  again  :  but  nothing  would 
do.     JE(op  feeing  his  mafter  quite  out  of  humour. 
Come  mafter,  fays  he.  TU  bring  my  miftrefs  back 
to  you  with  as   much  good  will  as  ever  (he  went 
from   you.     JEiop  immediately  goes  to  market, 
and  fpeaks  what  was  befl  in  the  leafon,  and  tells 
every  body  that  his  mafter  was  going  to  be  mar- 
ried 


THELIFEoFiESOP.  5 

ried  again,  and  this  was  to  be  the  wedding  feaft. 
The  news  flew  like  liahtnin[^%  and  coming  to  his 
miftrefs's  ears,  away  (he  polled  hack  to  her  huf- 
band.  No,  Xanthus,  f^ys  (he,  don't  think  that  ycu 
fliall  have  another  wife  while  J  Hve  ;  and  (o  kept 
the  houfe  clofe  afterwards.  After  this  there  hap- 
pened a  ftrange  thing  at  Samos :  for  an  eagle  had 
fnatched  up  the  town-feal,  and  dropt  it  into  the 
bofom  of  a  flave.  They  confuhcd  all  tr.e  u'jie 
men  about  it,  and  efpecially  Xanihus,  who  was  at 
a  lofs  what  to  think  on  it.  /Efop  hearing  of  it, 
went  before  the  town  council,  and  told  them 
the  meaning  of  it  wa?,  that  fome  great  King  h&d 
a  defign  to  take  away  their  liberties :  this  fatisfied 
them  fo  well,  that  they  proclaimed  iEfop  a  free-. 
man.  Shortly  after,  as  he  had  foretold,  there 
came  ambafladors  from  Croefus  king  of  Lydia, 
demanding  tribute,  and  threatening  them  with 
war  in  cafe  of  a  refufal.  Moft  part  of  them  was 
for  paying  the  tribute :  but  ^fop's  advice  put 
them  off  on*t.  The  king  came  afterwards  to  un- 
derftand  how  JEiop,  by  the  power  of  a  lew  words, 
diverted  them  :  he  fcnt  them  word  that  he  would 
put  a  jflop  to  the  v/ar,  if  ihcy  would  deliver  up 
JECop  to  him.  They  would  not,  but  he  would 
needs  go  himfw-lf.  When  he  came  before  the 
king,  he  looked  upon  him  with  difdain  :  but  when 
he  heard  him  fpeak,  he  was  fo  moved  with  the 
modefty  and  wifdcm  of  the  man,  that  he  not  only 
pardoned  him  ;  but  alfo,  for  his  fake,  forgave  the 
bamians  the  tribute  he  demanded.  After  this 
returning  to  Samos,  he  was  joyfully  received  by 
the  citizens,  who  erefled  a  ftatue  to  him.     ^'(op,. 

af;er 


6  The     LIFE     of     JESOF.^ 

after  this,  travelled  tb  Babylon  and  Egypt,  where 
he  w^as  kindly  entertained,  and  gained  great  repu- 
tation by  his  wifdom.  After  this  he  went  to 
Greece,  and  had  the  curiofity  to  vifit  Ddphos,  for 
the  oracle's  fake  :  when  he  came  there,  he  found 
matters  to  be  quite  oiherwifc  than  he  expeded  ; 
and  having  given  his  opinion  of  them,  the  magi- 
ftrates  took  great  offence  at  his  freedom  j  and 
fearing  left  he  fliould  give  the  fame  charadcr  of 
them  elfewhere,  and  to  lofe  the  reputation  they 
had  in  the  world  for  piety  and  wifdom,  entered 
into  a  coiifpiracy  to  take  avv^ay  his  life  :  fo  they 
caufed  a  golden  cup  to  be  fecretly  conveyed  into 
his  baggage,  when  he  was  going  to  depart. 
He  was  no  fconer  out  of  the  tov/n,  but  purfued, 
taken  up  and  charged  with  facrilege,  and  fo  hur- 
ried him  away  to  prifon.  He  was  next  day 
brought  into  the  court,  and  condemned  to  die: 
His  fentence  v/as  to  be  thrown  headlong  from  a 
high  reck. 


THE 


THE 


PREFACE. 

HPhE  ufual  way  of  teaching  by  tales,  and  fables 
"*"  is  to  pleafant  and  inftrucflive,  and  is  fo 
many  times  over  and  over  recommended  by  the 
greateft  and  wifeft  men  of  all  ages,  as  that  which 
makes  the  deepeft  impreffion  on  the  mind,  and 
comes  moft  lively  to  the  underftanding,  not  only 
of  men,  but  even  of  children,  that  it  would  be 
loft  labour  to  infift  on  its  commendation.  All 
the  precepts  and  counfels  of  the  antients,  for  or- 
dering our  Jives  and  manners,  have  been  handed 
down  to  us  under  fuch  veils  and  figures ;  and 
every  one  knows  the  frequent  and  edifying  ufe 
of  them  in  fcripture.  Chrift  himfelf  has  recom^ 
mended  this  way  of  teaching  by  parables,  both  in 
his  dodrine  and  pradlice,  well-knowing  that  the 
images  would  much  more  affedt  mens  minds, 
than  the  ftrongeft  and  moft  perfuading  way  of 
reafoning.  Befides,  we  have  a  convincing  proof 
of  this  in  ancient  hiftory  :  For  when  the  com- 
mon people  of  Rome  were  in  a  dired  mutiny 
againft  their  magiftrates,  that  they  would  neither 
pay  taxes  nor  bear  arms,  the  fedition  run  fo  high, 
that  all  the  arguments  the  fenators  made  ufe  of 
could  not  reclaim  them  until  Mcnenius  Agrippa 
did  it  by  this  fable  : 

The 


8  The       PREFACE; 

The  hands  and  feet  were  in  a  defperate  mutiny 
once  ao^ainft  the  belly  :  They  knew  no  reafon, 
they  UU,  that  the  one  (hould  lis  idle  and  pam- 
pering itfelf  v/ith  the  fruit  of  the  others  labour  j 
and  if  the  beliy  would  not  fliare  in  the  work, 
they  would  be  no  longer  at  the  charge  of  main- 
taining it  UpDn  this  mutiny  they  kept  the  belly 
too  \  n-ig  without  nouridirnent,  and  all  the  other 
parts  foffered  for  ic ;  infomuch  that  the  hands  and 
feet  came  at  laft  to  Snd  their  mitlake,  and  would 
hav^t  been  willing  to  have  done  their  office,  but 
it  w?s  then  too  late  5  for  the  belly  was  fo  pined 
with  overfafting,  that  it  was  quite  out  of  condition 
to  rcCL-ive  the  benefit  of  relief :  v/hich  gave  them 
to  ur.Jerftand,  that  the  body  and  members  are  to 
live  liiid  die  together. 

Now.  fays  he,  if  you  withdraw  your  fervice, 
you'll  fiad  your  miftak;^  when  il  is  too  late.  So 
by  this  means  he  brought  them  to  their  wits 
again. 


THE 


B       L       E 


O    F 


^     s     o     p. 

FABLE       I. 
The     eagle     and     FOX." 

J^  HE  Eagle  and  Fox  refolving  to  fiand  by,  and 
comfort  and  relieve  each  other  in  the  coiirfe 
of  their  lives,  whatever  Aould  befal  them  j  they 
»8''"f  'o  t»e  neighbours,  whereby  the  bond  of 
fnendfliip  they  had  lately  entered  into,  might  be 
the  more  iafting  and  iirn>,  fo  as  never  to  be  vio- 
lated or  broken.  The  Eagle  thereupon  made 
choice  of  a  tall  tree  for  its  abode  j  the  Fox,  his 

u  l\  "^"'^  ^"'^  ^"y.  of  a  thicket  of  brambles 
hard  by,  to  enjoy  the  friendfhip  and  fociety  of  hIs' 
good  neighbour  and  confederate.  The  Fox  be- 
ing abroad,  fearching  afrer  prey  to  maintain  her- 
fclt  and  young  ;  in  the  mean  while  the  Bade 
being  hungry,  flew  down  from  her  neft  to  the 
thicket,  where  finding  the  cabs  unguarded  by  their 
dam,  laying  her  talons  upon  them,  fhe  ftraight- 
way  carried  them  away  to  her  neft,  where   not 

B  long 


lo         FABLES     OF     JE  S  O  P. 

long  after,  fhe  and  her  young  ones  feafted  upon 
them.  The  Fox  returning,  quickly  difcoveted 
the  guilty  offender ;  the  grief  arifing  from  her  not 
being  able  to  revenge  the  injury,  more  affliding 
her  than  the  lofs  and  untimely  death  of  her  cubs : 
For  being  unfurnifhed  with  wings,  (he  knew  not 
how  to  ccme  at  her  avowed  enemy  and  robber. 
In  this  cafe,  not  being  able  to  be  even  with  her 
treacherous  friend,  (he  fell  to  curfing  and  banning 
her,  the  only  returning  fhe  then  could  make. 
Some  time  after  a  goat  being  facrificed  in  the 
open  field,  down  flies  the  Eagle,  and  fnatches 
away  a  piece  with  the  live  coals  that  hung  to  it, 
and  thus  carried  the  burnt-facrifice  to  her  hungry 
Eagles.  A  high  wind  chanced  at  that  inftant  to 
blow  the  coals,  fet  fire  to  the  neft,  and  down  fell 
the  young  ones  finged  with  the  flames  j  which 
the  Fox  efpying,  and  haftening  to  the  place,  in- 
ftantly  buried  them  in  her  guts,  to  the  no  little 
grief  of  the  dam  that  beheld  the  adt. 

The      moral. 

The  foregoing  tale  may  ftand  us  in  ftead  upon 
occafion,  viz.  when  injured  pcrfons  are  unable  to 
deal  with  them  that  wronged  them,  divine  jufticc 
will  be  even  with  them,  and  right  the  fufferer&. 

The      remark. 

Friendflilp  is  a  large  fubjefl,  and  a  very  copious  theme,  had  one 
a  mind  to  enlarge  and  dwell  thereon.  Many,  and  many  are  they, 
whofe  ftrift  and  inviolable  amity  has  kept  their  memorials  alive  to 
this  day,  and  preferved  their  fame  and  renown  from  being  buried 
ia  the  lilent  grave  of  oblivion  with  them.    Antien^  hillories  abound 


FABLES     OF     ^  S  O  P.         i £ 

with  examples  of  this  kind.  And  the  truth  of  it  is,  when  all  is 
faid  that  can  be  faid  about  it,  it  will  prove  fcanty,  and  fall  very 
far  Ihoi  t  of  the  due  efteem  of  the  thing  they,  between  which  it  is 
found,  enjoy.  'Tis  th'erefore  one  of  the  greateft  bleffings  heaven 
can  beftow  upon  mortals.  Wherefore,  in  fpeaking  of  it  1  fhall  be 
brief.  He  that  broke  his  word,  and  difrcgarded  the  oblicration  he 
lay  under,  was,  from  the  beginning  of  the  creation,  looked  upon  as 
a  heinous  criminal,  and  grievous  offender.  The  inftance  here  be- 
fore us  of  the  infincerity  of  the  Eagle,  is  fo  odieus  and  abominable, 
that  fcarce  one  circumftance  is  wanting  to  agf^ravate  and  inhance 
it.  'Tis  painted  to  the  life  by  -^fop's  admirable  pen,  and  the  foul 
mifdeed  is,  in  all  refpeds,  quite  contrary  to  cordial  friendlhip 
and  fair  dealing.  He,  in  whofe  heart  unfeigned  love  and  kindnefs 
lodges,  will  cxpofe  himfelf  to  any  danger,  if  thereby  he  hopes  to 
find  and  five  his  friend  from  the  jeopardy  and  mifchief  that 
threatens  him  ;  which  is  agreeable  to  the  doftrine  of  the  apoftle 
Paul,  who  tells  us,  **  That  for  a  righteous  perfon  one  would  even 
**  dare  to  die," 


FABLE       II. 
The     fox     and     GOAT. 

Zy  FOX  and  a  Goat  being  thirfty,  go  down  to 
•^  •*■  a  well  to  allay  it;  which  done,  the  Goat 
being  at  a  lofs  how  to  get  out,  ihe  Fox  to  com- 
fort her,  faid,  Be  of  good  cheer,  and  nothing  dif- 
mayed;  for  I  have  thought  upon  a  way  and  means 
how  thou  rtialt  get  up  again,  and  efcape  the  dang- 
er thou  fo  much  dreadefl :  For  if  thou  ftandeft 
upright,  leaning  thy  forefeet  againft  the  wall,  and 
bending  thy  horns  that  way  too,  by  means  of  this 
new  devifed  ladder,  I  getting  firft  out,  will  after- 
wards hale  thee  out  hence.  The  Goat  readily 
confented  to  do  what  (he  was  advifed  to.  The 
Fox  by  this  machine  fi^ipping  out,  danced  about 
the  mouth  of  the  well,  fporting  and  mer,ry.     But 

the 


12        FABLES     OF     iESOP, 

the  Goat  blamed  her  for  not  performing  her  pro- 
mife,  and  not  being  as  ^ood  as  her  word  :  To 
whom  the  Fox  replied,  Had  your  head  been  as 
long  as  your  beard,  thou  wouldfl  not  have  ven- 
tured into  the  well  before  thou  hadil  thought  of  a 
way  to  climb  out  of  it  again. 

The     moral. 

The  ufe  and  profit  arifing  from  the  tale  (hews 
us,  th^t  it  is  the  part  of  a  wife  man  ferioufly  and 
naturally  -to  confider  and  weigh  the  means  of  at- 
taining the  enterprife,  as  well  as  the  end  and  iffue 
of  it,  before  he  goes  about  it. 

The     R  E  M  a  R  Ki 

Rafli  and  unadvifed  attempts  nfually  mifcarry.  What  is  blindly 
undertaken,  the  end  feldom  anfwers  the  hopes  conceived  of  it, 
unlefs  chance,  which  {"eldom  falls  out  to  fecond  and  favour  the  de- 
fign.  The  experience  of  all  ages  has  fet  its  feal  to  this  truth,  and 
will,  as  loijg  as  time  lafts,  rati/y  and  cUablilh  it. 


FABLE      IIL 
The     swan     and     GOOSE. 

JX  MAN  ftorcd  with  riches,  and  the  goods  of 
•^  this  world,  bred  up  a  Goofe  and  Swan  in 
his  yard,  but  not  for^  the  fame  ^nd  :  The  Swan 
he  fed  to  pleafe  his  ear,  the  other  his  palate, 
whenever  he  (hould  think  fit  to  feed  upon  her. 
When  the  time  came  that  the  Goofe  was  deftined 

to 


FABLES     OF     ^SOP.         13 

to  die,  and  be  upon  the  fpi*,  in  the  evening  the 
owner  intended  to  kill  his  Goofc  ;  but  delaying  it 
too  long,  he  could  net  difcern  Vv'hich  v/as  which, 
and  miitook  the  one  for  the  other.  Death  ap- 
proaching the  Swan  by  misfcrtane,  flic  falls  to 
finging  a  melodious  long,  as  a  preparatory  to  her 
latter  end,  and  by  her  harmony  undeceived  her 
mailer,  whereby  (lieelcaped  the  imminent  diinger, 
and  the  terrible  fear  (lie  was  in  quickly,  vaniihed. 

The      moral. 

The  life  of  a  creature  is  ihat  which  is  deareft  to 
it,  and  which  is  ufually  valued  above  all  it  enjoys 
befide  ;  and  therefore  a  man  cannot  be  too  tender 
and  backward  in  taking  it  away,  when  it  is  in  his 
power  to  do  it. 

The      remark. 

Melody  is  often  very  ufeful,  becaufe  it  prolonors  life  when  death 
IS  ready  to  put  an  end  to  it.  'Tis  high  time  to  "look  about  when 
death  is  ready  to  feize  us  :  All  thoughts  are  nt  work  to  devifc  a 
way  how  we  may  efcape.  Any  fiiift,  though  ever  ib  pitiful,  if  like 
to  fucceed,  will  ferve  the  turn.  By  this'we  may  fee  the  fubtileft 
contrivances  mifcarry  ;  when  others,  a  great  deal  more  fhallow, 
effcd  the  bufinefs,  and  lead  to  fafety  and  content. 

FABLE-     IV. 
A     CUCKOO     AND     A     HAWK. 


Y  the  beak  and  claw  of  a  Cuckoo,  one  would 
take   her    for  a  kind  of  a  Hawk  ;  only  the 
one   lives    upon  worms,  and  the  other  upon 
flefli  5  infomuch  that  a  Hawk  twitted  a  Cuckoo  on 


B 


a 


14        FABLES     OF     ^SOP; 

a  time  with  her  coarfe  way  of  feeding.  If  you 
would  look  like  a  Hawk,  why  do  you  not  live 
like  a  Hawk  ?  The  Cuckco  took  this  a  little  ill  : 
But  flying  by  a  dove-houfe  fome  time  after,  (he 
efpied  the  fkin  of  this  very  H^wk  upon  a  pole 
planted  upon  the  top  of  the  pigeon  houfe.  Well, 
fays  the  Cuckoo  within  hcrlelf  to  the  Hawk, 
And  had  not  you  as  good  have  been  eating  worms 
as  pigeons  ? 

The      moral. 

Pride  is  an  ^abomination  in  the  fight  of  God, 
and  judgment  is  juft  upon  us  when  the  fubjedt  of 
cur  vanity  becomes  the  occafion  of  our  ruin. 

The      remark. 

A  fafe  mediocrity  is  much  better  than  an  envied  and  dangerous 
precedency.  They  that  in  their  profperity  defpife  others,  fhall  be 
fare  in  adverfity  to  be  defpiied  themfelves.  It  is  much  the  fame 
caie  with  men  of  prey,  that  it  is  with  birds  of  prey  ;  ihey  look  on 
it  as  a  difparagement  to  fort  themfelves  with  any  other  than  the 
enemies  of  the  public  peace  ;  but  thofe  that  live  upon  rapine  are 
let  a  mark  upon  as  the  common  enemy,  and  all  heads  and  hand* 
are  bufy  about  their  dcftrudion. 


FABLE       V. 
A    FLEA     AND     A     MAN. 

THERE  was  a  fellow,  that  upon  a  Flea  biting 
called    to   Hercules    for   help.      The    Flea 
made  her  efcape,  and  the  Man  is  angry  upon 
the   matter*     Well,    Hercules,    fays   be,  you  that 
would  not  take  my  part  againft  a  forry  Flea,  will 

never 


FABLES     OF     iESOP. 


15 


never  be  my  fccond  in  a  time  of  need,  againft  a 
more  powerful  enemy. 


The      moral. 

We  flight  God  in  matters  and  concerns  of  great- 
er moment,  and  petition  him  for  toys  ;  nay,  and 
take  pet,  at  leaft,  if  we  cannot  fpeed  and  obtaia 
our  defire. 

The      remark: 

*Tis  an  argument  of  a  naughty  difpofition  of  mind,  to  turn  office* 
and  duties  of  piety  into  matters  and  words  only  of  courfe,  and  to 
fquander  away  our  wiflies  and  prayers  upon  what  amounts  to  little 
more  than  downright  fooleries  and  play-game  ;  when  life  and 
death,  heaven  and  hell,  and  the  like  weighty  matters  take  not  up 
our  thoughts,  nor  bufy  our  minds,  we  being  wholly  unconcerneJ 
about  them.  By  this  impertinent  and  foolifh  way  of  proceeding 
towards  the  Almighty,  men  Aide  by  little  and  little  into  fome  fort 
of  doubt,  if  not  a  dire<5l  difbelief  and  contempt  of  his  power.  And 
then,  with  the  country  fellow  here,  if  we  cannot  obtain  every  vaia 
thing  we  aflc  for,  we  prefently  take  pet  at  the  refufal,  and  in  revenge 
give  over  praying  for  good  and  all,  and  fo  part  with  heaven  for  a 
iiea-fmart. 


FABLE       VI. 
A     FOX     AND     GRAPES. 

UPON  a  time,  when  a  Fox  would  have 
ventured  as  far  for  a  bunch  of  grapes  as 
for  a  flioulder  of  mutton  :  There  was  a 
Fox  of  thofe  days,  and  of  that  place,  that  flood 
gaping  under  a  vine,  and  licking  his  lips  at  a  mod 
delicious  clufter  of  grapes  that  he  efpied  out  there. 

He 


i6        FABLES    OF    iE  S  O  R. 

He  fetched  a  hundred  and  a  hundred  leaps  at  if, 
'till  at  laft  he  was  as  weary  as  a  dog,  and  found  he 
availed  nothing  by  it :  Hang  'em,  (fays  he)  they 
are  as  four  as  crabs.  And  fo  away  hs  went,  turn- 
ing off  the  difappointment  with  a  jeft. 

The      moral. 

When  man  cannot,  in  due  manner,  attain  what 
he  longs  for,  and  aims  at,  it  is  a  token  he  is  en- 
dowed with,  prudence  and  found  difcretion,  in 
giving  over  driving  for  it. 

The     remark. 

'Tis  a  poin;rofgood  difcretion  to  make  a  virtue  of  neceffity,  and 
to  cement  ourfelves  with  v/hat  we  can  compafs  in  an  honeft  way, 
tho'joh  we  eagerly  covet  to  have  fomewhat  elfe.  For  it  is  a  notable 
piece  of  craft  and  worldly  wifdom,  to  feem  to  defpife  what  we  are 
unable  to  obtain,  and  to  put  oft  a  mifcarriage  with  a  jeft.  Befide 
it  is  much  more  commendable  to  have  people  think  a  man  could 
gain  fuch  and  fach  a  point,  if  he  would,  than  that  he  would,  but 
cannot.  This  fable  affords  us  a  notable  piece  of  dodlrine  andin- 
Jlruction  that  may  prove  very  ufeful  to  us,  if  we  heed  it,  in  govern- 
ing our  lives,  managing  our  aiiairs,  and  direfling  our  converfation 
during  cur  pilorimage  in  this  world.  A  prudent  perfon,  whom  we 
fhould  always  iirive  to  imitate,  cannot,  at  lead:  will  not,  change  his 
countenance  at  the  frowns  and  fmiL^s  of  giddy  and  inconftant  fortune: 
He  '^oes  cheerfully  on  his  way,  whatever  rubs  and  holes  he  meets 
within  it:  Difappointmcnts  that  moft  of  all  ruffle  us,  andcxercife' 
our  patience  and  conflancy,  afflict  him  very  little  :  He  knowa  the 
world,  and  experts  nothing  elfe  from  it. 

FABLE       Vll. 

A    V/OLF     AND     KID. 

AK  ID  being  in  a  place  where  no  harm  could 
reach  herj^^efpied  a  Wolf  as  he  paffed  by,  a 
whom  ftie  prefently  fell  a  railing  and  fcoffing  :  To 

which 


FABLES    OF     JE  S  O  ?.         17 

which  the  Wolf  replied,  'Tis  well  you  are  out  of 
my  reach,  other  wife  Fd  make  you  give  better 
words. 

The      moral. 

Hence*  we  leara  this  notable  truth,  that  place 
and  opportunity  embolden  many  to  do  what 
otherwiie  they  could  fooner  cat  their  nails  than  do. 

The      remark. 

'•'  There  is  nothing  more  bold  and  fancy  than  a  coward  when  he 
dreads  no  danger.  Thi«  way  of  reviling  and  clamour  is  fo  arrant 
a  maflcof  a  daftardly  wretch,  that  he  does  as  good  as  call  hiirifelf.  fo 
that  ufes  it. 


FABLE       VIIL 
A    COCK    AND    Precious    STONE. 

ACOCK  fceking  for  food  upon  a  dung-hill, 
lighted  upon  a  precious  ftone,  fo  called  and 
elleemed  by  the  foolilh  world.  After  he 
had  viewed  and  confidered  it  a  while,  thus  thought 
with  himfelf  J  A  barley-corn  would  have  i'crved 
my  turn  better,  and  nouriflied  me,  which  the  fight 
of  this  glittering  ftone  cannot  do. 

The      moral. 

Honeft  induftry  and  pains  never  go  unreward- 
ed. Virtue  itfelf  is  its  own  reward,  if  it  meet 
with  no  other  from  an  ungrateful  agc« 

C  The 


jg        FABLES    OF    iE  S  O  ?*^ 
The     remark. 

The  ufe  and  benefit  this  Fable  affords  us  is  this,  viz.  That  ne- 
ceffary  things  (hould  direft  and  command  our  choice,  before  things 
that  are  not  fo,  which  tend  to  nothing  elfe  but  dirappointment  and 
vanity,  and  to  plsafe  and  gratify  an  idle  mifled  paffion. 

FABLE       IX. 
The    wolf,    KID,     and     GOAT. 

AGO  AT  having  occafion  to  go  abroad,  or^ 
dered  her  Kid  to  let  nobody  in  that  came  to 
the  door  that  had  not  a  beard,  till  her  return. 
Soon  after  a  Wolf,  that  was  hard  by  when  the 
charge  was  given,  approached  the  door,  and  de- 
manded admittance,  ufing  a  counterfeit  voice  for 
that  purpofe.  The  Kid,  apprehenfive  of  the 
danger  that  was  ready  to  overtake  her,  bid  the  Wolf 
fliew  his  beard,  and  his  requeft  fhould  be  granted^ 

The      M  o'r  a  L, 

Hypocrify,  as    cunning  and   deceiving  as  it  is,^ 

cannot  conceal  all  ways  of  difcovering  it.  A  little 

attention  and  trial  will  difcover  the  cheat,  and  re- 
move the  difguife. 

The      remark. 

This  Fable  Ihould  ferve  as  a  caution  to  all  focieties,  not  to  ad- 
mit any-perfons  as  members  with  whofe  temper  and  character  they 
are  not  fufficiently  acquainted  ;  for  defigning  men  will  facrifice 
s^e  intereft  of  the  fociety  to  their  own  private  views.     And  all  is 

not 


FABLES     OF     ^SOP.         19 

^iOt  gold  that  glifters  :  One  may  have  a  very  fpecious  appearance, 
and  yet  be  an  arrant  knave  at  bottom.  But  wife  regulations  will 
do  much  to  prevent  this  impofition  ;  and  we  fhall  find  it  eafier  to 
deny  accefs  to  perfons  who  are  fufpe«5led  this  way,  than,  when  once 
they  .arc  admitted,  to  exclude  them. 


FABLE      X. 
A    SPIDER     AND     SWALLOW. 

AS  P  I  D  E  R  feeing  a  Swallow  catch  Flics, 
a  foo'ifti  fancy  or  whlmfy  fet  her  to  wort 
how  to  contrive  a  net  that  would  catch 
Swallows,  as  intruders  upon  her  right,  and  mere 
interlopers.  But  the  net  proved  too  weak  to  hold 
the  prey  :  And  fo  the  bird  flew  away  with  it ; 
by  which  the  Spider  was  undeceived,  and  fo  fell 
to  her  old  trade  again. 


The      moral. 

He  that  follows  a  calling  he  has  no  genius  or 
fitnefs  for,  will  foon  grow  weary  of  it,  and  lay  it 
down. 

The      remark. 

It  is  both  fafe  and  prudent  for  every  one  to  make  trial  of  his 
ability,  and  the  force  of  the  advcrfary  he  is  to  contend  with,  be- 
fore he  enters  the  lift  with  him  :  If  the  enemy  be  ftrongcr,  the 
other  .will  certainly  lofe  the  day  and  his  reputation  at  once.  The 
Spider's  attempt  was  very  fooliih,  and  the  wrong  fhe  conceived  to 
be  done  her  ill  grounded.  The  aim  and  drift  of  the  Fable  is  to 
help  us  to  underftand  and  explain  injuries  atight.  It  is  hurtful  and 
injurious  to  look  upon  a  thing  as  injury,  which  is  nothing  fo.  It 
was  a  ridiculous  project  to  think  of  catching  a  Swallow  in  a  cob- 
web ;  and  as  much  was  the  Spider  millaUen  in  vainly  imagining  to 

ingrofj 


20         FABLES     OF     JE  S  O  P. 

int^rofs  the  air  to  his  own  Kfe.  Thofe  men,  in  fhort,  deferve  to  be 
accounted  great  fjols  that  nre  fretful  and  angry,  firft  for  nothing, 
fecrdlv  to  no  jT.anner  of  purpofe.  How  many  are  more  foolifii 
than  'his  Spider,  who  feeing  their  frnitlefs  endeavours  ard  attempts, 
return  to  their  old  tr^de  again?  Whereas,  many  men  are  fo  obllinate, 
that  th'-y  will  never  own  thev  have  committed  any  miiVr.hes,  or 
been  guilty  of  any  errors  ;  and  fo,  like  Pharoah,  harden  their  own 
hearts,  and  ufe  violence  to  their  own  confciences,  raiher  th^n  it 
fhould  be  faid  th?t  they  were  guilty  of  the  leafl:  miftake  ;  and  fo 
run  on,  till,  at  lall,  they  are  drowned  in  the  fea  of  obllinacy  and 
llubbornnefs. 


FABLE       XL 
A     FOX     AND     A     COCK. 

A  FOX  fpied  a  Cock  at'rooft  upon  a  tree  with  his 
hens;  the  unofual  fjght  whereof  made  bim  afk 
the  Cock,  why  he  chofe  a  tree  for  h^s  rooir, 
being  no  fit  place  for  that  purpofe.  But,  con- 
tinues Reynard,  you  do  not  hear  the  news  per- 
ijaps,  which  is  certainly  true  :  There  is  a  general 
peace  and  concord  agreed  on  between  all  living 
creatures,  fo  that  henceforward  not  one  will  dare 
fo  ?.nnoy,  much  lefs  prey  upon  his  fellow-creature, 
Thisjs  good  news  indeed,  lays  the  Cock  5  at  the 
fame  time  flretching  cut  his  neck,  as  if  he  had  a 
mind  to  fee  fomething  afar  off.  At  which  the 
Fox  afked  the  Cock,  what  he  gazed  at  ?  Nothing, 
fays  the  other,  but  a  coupfe  oJ-  great  dogs  yonder, 
ihat  are  coming  this  w^ay  open  mouthed,  as  fafi: 
•r;S  they  can  run.  if  it  be  io,  fays  the  Fox,  it  is 
time  lor  me  to  depart  :  No,  no,  replied  the  Cock, 
the  general  peace  will  fecure  you.  Ah,  fays  the 
Fox,  io  it  wiii  5  but  if  the  found  of  the  proclama- 
tion 


FABLES     OF     iESOP.         21 

tion  has  not  yet  reached  their  ears,  they  may 
facrifice  me  to  their  hunger  and  hatred  they  bear 
me:  and  (o  betjck  himfelf  to  his  heels. 

The      moral. 

Amongft  over-reaching,  and  fuch  as  trick  others 
out  of  their  right,  due  refped:  ought  to  be  had  to 
honour  and  jailice. 

The      remark. 

This  is  to  tell  us,  that  in  fome  cafes  one  nail  mufl  be  driven  out 
by  another  ;  and  the  deceiving  of  rhe  deceiver  doubles  the  pleafure. 
^Tis  a  hard  matter  to  make  an  agreement  between  a  forger  and 
his  forgery  ;  they  are  in  a  manner  irreconcilable  ;  fo  that  it 
requires,  great  care  and  ficill  in  a  iliammer,  to  fee  that  he  con- 
tradi>:l:  not  himfelf.  Wherefore  flatterers  and  liars  had  need  of  n-ood 
memories.  A  general  truce  would  have  put  the  Fox  out  of  danger 
as  vvlH  as  the  Cock;  but  if  the  Fox  would  not  Hand  the  dorrs,  ihe 
Cock  had  no  rcafon  to  trull  the  Fox.  All  people  that  are  tre'acher- 
ous  in  their  kind,  are  narrowly  to  be  fufpcded,  when  things  are 
told  that  concern  their  own  intereft;  and  when  they  can  ma!;e 
nothing  elfe  out,  they  chufe  to  put  it  cir  with  a  jeft. 


FABLE       Xir. 

JUPITER      AND      THE      BE  HI 

AB  E  E  prefented  Jupiter  wirh  a  pot  of  honey, 
which  was  fo  acceptable  to  him,  that  he 
bid  her  afk  what  (he  would  from  him,  and 
(he  fliculd  have  her  will.  The  Bee  replied,  that 
the  wound  made  by  her  fling  whenever  it  happen- 
ed might  prove  mortal.  Jupiter  bid  her  be  con- 
tent without  her  vvifli,  and  be  rather  inclined  to 
tave  life  than  to  deftroy  it  3  telling  her  farther,  That 

if 


5.Z        FABLES    OF    ^SOP. 

Jf  /he  flung    any,   and  left  her  fling  behind  her,  \i 
would  become  fatal  to  her. 

The      moral. 

He  that  longs  to  fee  mifchief  fall  en  another, 
and  prays  to  the  Almighty  it  may  fo  happen,  often 
haflens  his  own  ruin  and  overthrow. 

The      remark. 

McrcilefTnefs  and  icvcnge  are  quite  contrary  to  God*s  gentlen.-fs 
and  forbearance,  and  the  contriver  of  mifchief  commonly  feels  it 
iirft  himfelf.  He  that  lays  a  trap  for  another,  generally  entangles 
himfelf  in  his  own  gin.  Many  in  the  world,  how  mifchievous 
"vvoqjd  they  be,  had  they  power  equal  to  their  ill-nature,  which  fo 
much  abounds  in  this  land  !  So  it  fares  with  the  Bfee  here  ;  fhe  had 
inifchief  in  her  heart  already,  and  wanted  only  fome  mifchievous 
powers  anfwerable  to  her  malicious  wifh. 

FABLE       XIIL 

Of  the  man  and  the  SERPENT. 

SERPENT  haunted  a  country-cottage, 
and  bit  a  child  that  flruck  it,  which  foon 
after  occafioned  his  death  ;  the  child's 
parent  being  much  grieved  at  it,  with  a  bill  he  had 
in  his  hand,  deprived  the  Sn^ke  of  his  tail  s  this 
done,  though  the  utmoft  he  intended  was  not 
done,  to  conceal  Vv^hat  he  pro'pofed  to  do  further, 
which  was  to  retaliate  and  pay  him  in  his  own 
coin,  be  refclved  to  endeavour  to  be  friends  with 
him.  But  the  Snake  refufed  it,  telling  him,  it  was 
morally  impoflible  a  firm  and  fafe  league  could  be 

made 


FABLES     OF     JE  S  O  V.         z^ 

iti^dc  betwixt  them,  till  he  had  forgot  the  un- 
timely death  of  bis  child,  and  the  other  the  lofs 
of  his  tail. 

The      moral. 

Perfons  that  have  injured  each  other  cannot 
prefently  forget  holfilities  and  outrages  done  to 
one  another,  and  forgive  them  j  injuries  ufually 
leaving  a  fmart  behind  them,  that  continue  long 
after. 


The      remark. 

Friendihip  is  of  that  nature,  that  if  not  entire  and  complete,  ii 
dangerous,  and  proves  rather  ^  inare  thaA  a  lafcfguard.  'Tis  rarely 
^een  ihai  two,  who  were  once  enemies,  ever  aker  return  to  a  perfect 
ami'.y  and  concord.  And  no  wonder,  it  is  that  fo  it  falls  out,  real 
ft-iendfhip  being  in  all  ages  fo  rare  and  uncommon. 


FABLE      XIV. 
A     FOX     ANi>     HEDGE-HOG. 

AF  O  X  meeting  a  Porcupine  or  Hedge-hog, 
wondered  to  fee  him  fo  armed  cap-a-pee, 
every  part  having  on  its  armour  of  defence : 
afterwards  fvll  into  talk  with  him,  and  among  oiher 
things  perfuaded  him  to  lay  afide  that  hcftile 
garb,  as  not  being  apprchcnfive  of  any  danger  that 
threatened  it.  After  the  Porcupine  had  liftened  a 
while  to  his  deceitful  arguments,  he  made  this 
reply  to  the  enfnaring  beguiler,  Methinks  I  fmcU 
a  Fox :  Keep  at  a  diftancc  j  your  eloquent  flou- 

rifhe* 


24 


FABLES     OF     JE  S  O  F. 


rifhes  have  made  no  impreffion  upon  me  :  Be 
packing  therefore,  left  yoa  feel  the  keennefs  of 
my  anger,  and  the  fmart  of  prickles. 

The      moral. 

He  that  ftrips  himfelf  of  the  fence  that  nature 
has  beftowed  upon  him  for  his  fafcguard,  is  miier- 
ably  foolifh,  and  if  he  fmarts  for  it,  deferves  no 
compaffion. 

The      remark. 

Every  thing  that  has  not  a  mind  to  peri fh,  is  provided  with 
means  to  avoid  it.  Hares  are  Itored  with  ways  to  efcape  the  dogs 
that  purfue  them.  Partridges  know  how  to  fave  themfelves  from 
the  claws  of  their  mercilefs  enemies  the  Hawks.  The  fmaller  fry 
have  their  feveral  tricks  ard  devices  to  keep  out  of  harm's  way  ; 
feJf-prefervatioa  being  implanted  in  every  thing  that  has  a  being, 

FABLE       XV. 
The    wolf     and     carved     HEAD. 


A' 


WOLF  entering  a  Carver's  (hop,  found  a 
man's  head  ;  after  a  little  gazing  and  think- 
ing thereon,  imagined  it   had   no   fenfe,  and 

then   faid,   O   pretty   Head,    finely  wrought,  but 

void  utterly  of  brains. 


The      moral. 

Outward  comelinefs  is  fo  much  the  more  grace- 
ful,   if   the  inwarci  be  anfwerable  and  agreeable  to  , 
it  'y  and   a  handfome  outward  (hape  is  fo  far  from 

decking 


FABLES     OF     ^  S  O  P.         45 

decking  a  fool,  that  it  renders  him  the  more  hate- 
ful and  contemptible. 

The      remark. 

Ounvard  beauty,  no  doubt,  very  much  fets  off  and  graces  a  pel'.- 
fon  :  but  tie  m,„d  ,s  a  1  in  all,  that  vaftly  e^eeds^very  tC 
elfe  he  poffefles  and  enjoys:  All  befides  this  is  of  no  eftcem  an! 
without   tt  he  IS  very  much  beneath  a  brute,  who,  when  he'd^e, 

Zt  \  T/c  ""'■'''  """■I'l  "« '■«  in,  if  mankind  would  but 
bellow  the  half,  nay  the  twentieth  part  of  their  precious  time  t" 
adorn  and  trim  their  infides,  (which  is  the  great  thing  necXv> 
which  they  lavilhly  wafte  in  painting  and  feling  off  tioutfide'^ 
rhnV.i  ■•f'"^'"'^"  '•'«  ^voes  pronounced  by  our  Saviour,  again* 
thofe  that  cleanfed  the  outfide  of  the  cup  and  platter,  but  neglefted 

hei  mortil'h''H-'''"\"°.''°"''V  '^%  """'"ke  fo  ^uch  paTns  o„ 
their  mortal  bodies,  which  arc  often  like  the  painted  fepulchr.s. 

FABLE      XVh 
The    O  X   and    D  O  G    ,n    the    Mamger. 

A  ^^U^LISHCurgotintoa  manger, 
I  X  and  there  fnaried  to  Iceep  the  Oxen  from 
their  provender  and  food,  brought  thither 
for  them  by  their  careful  owner  j  the  meat  fitted 
not  the  Dog,  who,  to  ftarve  others,  cared  not  what 
became  of  himfelf. 

TitE      MORAL. 

Other  people's  mifery  is  the  proper  food  of 
envy  and  ili-nature,  which  had  rather  want  itfelf, 
than  fee  others  enjoy  what  is  convenient  and  ne- 
ceflary  for  them. 


D 


(Tub 


26        F  A  B  L  E  S    o  F    iE  S  O  p. 


The      remark. 

There  are  but  too  many  in  the  world  of  this  Dog's  temper,  that 
will  rather  punifh  themfelves  than  not  be  troublefome  and  vexa- 
tious to  others.  If  fome  mcA  might  have  their  wifli,  the  very  fun 
in  the  firmament  (hould  withdraw  his  light,  and  they  would  fubmit 
to  live  in  perpetual  darknefs  themfelves,  upon  condition  that  the 
reft  of  the  world  might  do  fo  too  for  company.  Whatfoever  their 
neighbour  get?,  they  lofe  ;  and  the  very  bread  the  one  eatp,  makes 
the  other  lean  and  meagre ;  which  is  the  natural  meaning  and 
intent  of  the  tale. 


FABLE      XVII. 
A     DOG    AND     SHADOW. 

AD  O  G  croffing  a  river  with  a  morfel  of  meat 
in  his  mouth,  faw,  as  he  thought,  another 
Dog  under  the  water,  with  fuch  a  piece  of 
meat  in  his  mouth,  as  he  had  in  his.  He  never 
confidered,  that  what  he  faw  was  refleflion  only, 
and  that  the  water  did  the  office  of  a  looking- 
glafs  ;  wherefore  greedily  chopping  at  it,  he  loft 
both  fabftance  and  rtiadow,  to  his  great  regret 
and  difappcintment. 

The      moral. 

Exceflive  greedinefs  moft  in  end  mifles  what  it 
aims  at ;  diforderly  appetites  feldom  obtain  what 
they  would  have  j  paliions  miflead  men,  and  often 
bring  them  into  great  ftraits  and  inconveniencies, 
through  heedleffnefs  and  negligence. 

The 


FABLES     of    .^SOP.        27 


The      remark. 

This  Fable  (hews  people  the  great  dagger  and  mifchlef  they  may 
-fall  into  by  fufferirg  thcmfelves  to  be  directed  by  conceit  only,  and 
fancy  thai  is  its  own  guide.  How  wcetched  is  the  man  who  does 
not  knr;w  when  he  is  well,  but  pafTos  awav  the  peace  and  enjoy- 
ment of  his  life  for-  the  humoaring  a  whidfical  appetuc.?  He  ii 
never  well  till  he  ii  at  the  top,  and  when  he  can  go  no  higher,  he 
miifi;  either  hang  in  the  air,  or  fall.  What  can  be  vainer  now, 
than  to  laviih  out  our  lives  and  fortunes  in  the  fcurch  and  parchafc 
of  trifles,  and  at  the  faoie  time  to  ly  carking  for  the  needlefs  goods 
of  thi^  ^vorld,  and  in  a  relli,  fs  difquiet  of  thought  for  what  is  to 
come,  which  is,  at  the  fame  time,  as  uncertain  ;:s  uncertainty  iifelff' 


FABLE       XVUL 
The     viper     and     FILE. 

AV  I  P  E  R  meeting  with  a  Fife,  fell  to  gnaw- 
ing it.  What  ails  the  fool  ?  fays  the  File  : 
Doft  thou  go  about  to  fret  me,  who  am  wont  to 
gnaw  the  hardcft  cf  metals  ? 

The      moral. 

Splenetic  fools  neither  regard  their  own  intereft, 
nor  that  of  any  body  elfe  :  Fall  about  it  they  will, 
whatever  betide  them,  whatfoevcf  mifchief  or  ca- 
lamity they  thereby  run  into. 

The      remark. 

Unadvifed  raflinefs  hurries  men  unawares  into  manifold  mif- 
chiefs.  The  attempt  here  of  the  Viper  was  exceeding  fooliih, 
and  no  lefs  ridiculous ;  for  the  lofter  and  weaker  gnawer,  to  bite 
and  gnaw  the  harder  and  itronger,  looka  odd  and  very  wild. 

FABLE 


2?        FABLES    OF     iESOP, 

FABLE      XIX. 
A    WOLF    AND     LAMB. 


A 


WOLF  quenching  his  third:  at  a  fountain- 
head,  perceived  at  a  good  diftance  below  him, 
a  Lamb  landing  at  the  brink  of  the  faid  rivulet ; 
upon  which  the  Wolf  haftens  to  her.  Wretch,  as 
thou  art,  fays  he,  how  didft  thou  dare  to  mud  the 
ftream  ?  To  which  the  Lamb  replied,  That  flie 
thought  that  her  drinking  at  luch  a  diftance  below 
him  could  not  have  given  any  difturbance.  Nay, 
fays  the  other,  you  will  remember  what  your 
mother's  faucinefs  coft  ber  a  while  ago  j  if  you 
have  not  a  care,  you*il  fare  as  (he  did  :  If  you'll 
believe  me,  fays  the  Lamb,  in  a  trembling  pofture, 
1  was  not  then  in  being.  Well,  well,  irnpudence, 
fays  the  Wolf,  you  talk  at  this  rate  out  of  hatred 
to  our  kind  and  family  5  but  now  I  have  you  in  a 
convenient  place,  1  will  be  even  with  you  ;  and 
fo  immediately  facrificed  her  to  his  hunger  and 
fevenge. 

The      moral. 

"Tis  an  eafy  matter  to  find  an  occafion  to  mifufq 
pne  that  is  below  us.  Innocence  is  no  armour 
Hgainft  tyrannical  power  ;  no  pleas  avail  againfl  a 
power  and  a  defire  of  injuring,  if  they  meet  toge- 


The 


FABLES     OF    JE  S  O  ?.        119 


The      remark. 

PriHe  and  cruelty  never  want  a  pretence  to  do  mifchief ;  the 
plea  of  not  guilty  fignifies  nothing  where  arbitrary  power  is. 
When  innocence  is  to  be  born  down  by  miqht,  arguments  are 
foolilh  things  ;  nay,  the  very  merit,  virtues,  and  good  offices  of  the 
perfon  accufed,  are  improved  to  his  condemnation  ;  nay,  fuch  is 
the  boldn'^fs  of  fpiteful  cruelty,  that  people  Ihall  be  charged  with 
things  utterly  impofiible,  and  wholly  foreign  to  the  mdtrer  in 
queftion  ;  the  Lamb  itfelf  (hall  be  made  malicious.  Thus  the  jews 
treated  the  Lamb  of  God,  and  fuch  treatment  mud  all  men  expeft, 
who  endeavour  to  follow  the  Lamb  ;  for  fo  great  is  the  corruption 
of  men,  that  intereft  and  felf-love  are  foifted  in,  and  pafs  at  prefent 
for  true  religion  and  piety  ;  and  under  this  falfe  mafk  of  godlinefs, 
perfea:ionis  chriilened  with  zeal,  and  fury  for  religion  and  Chrifti- 
snity. 


FABLE       XX. 
An     eagle     and      TORTOISE. 

A  TORTOISE  being  weary  of  living  in  a  hole 
and  carrying  his  houfe  about,  made  a  requeft 
to  the  Eagle  to  learn  him  to  lly.  The  Eagle 
feemed  unwilling  to  grant  it,  telling  hln?  it  was 
againft  nature's  courfe  and  appointment,  and  com- 
mon fenfe  too.  But  fuch  was  the  freakirtinefs  of 
the  Tortoife,  that  the  more  the  one  was  agfiinft 
it,  the  more  the  other  wis  for  it.  The  Eagle 
perceiving  the  tirefome  isnportunity  of  the  Tor- 
toife, heaved  him  up  in  the  air,  fteeple  high,  and 
then  let  him  fall  ^  the  firfl:  thing  that  he  met  with 
at  his  return  was  a  rock,  which  dafhed  him  to 
pieces. 

The 


3t>        F  A  B  L  E  S    o  F     iE  S  O  P. 


The      moral. 

Whatever   is  unnatural,  and  goes  topfy-tuhVy, 
cannot  but  be  dangerous,  and  of  ill  conicqacncei 

The      remark. 

This  hints  to  us,  how  unfafe  a  vanity  it  is  for  a  creature  ihntwa* 
tiefiined  for  one  condition  of  life  to  affci>  another,  no  way  arubeable 
to  it.  The  Tortoife's  place  was  cpon  the  fands,  not  anion?  the 
ftars;  and  if  he  had  kept  his  wome-^';habitadon,  he  \v<Juklrhea 
have  been  out  of  danger  of  n  fnW;  for  then  h.;  cjuM  never  have 
catched  one.  Many  a  fool  is  well  advif^d,  that  has  not  eithPT  the 
grace  or  the  wit  to  follow  and  profit  b/  it,  and  thus  his  ftubboni 
wilfulnefs  often  provci  his  ruin. 


FAB  L  E       XXI. 
The     Vv^  I  D  O  V/     Xnd     uek     »E  N. 

A  CERTAIN  Widow  bad   a  Hen    that   e\;^>y 
di^y   laid   one   egg.     Upon  this   ilie  vafely 
thought  within  hcrfclf,    that  if  fhe  gave  her 
Hen    more    meat,  ihe  would  lay  two  eggs  a-dary. 
She    tried   the  experiment   upon  it,    till  the  Hen 
waxed  fat,  and  by  tint  means  gave  over  laying. 

The      MORAL. 

This  Fable  is  a*kin  to  that  of  the  Dog  and 
Shadow  foregoing*  Striving  after  a  great  deal, 
w^hich  is  both  unlikely  and  uncertain,  wc  worfb 
curfelves,  not  at  all  mending  our  condition. 

The 


J*:A  B  L  E  S     OP     JE  S  O  P,         3^ 
The      remark. 

To  be  dlfcontented  \v;th  prefent  comforts  atid  enjoyments,  is  no, 
hopeful  way  of  attaining  either  more  or  greater.  What  a  happi* 
nels  would  it  be  to  mankind,  did  thay  but  know  when  they  were 
wt'Il !  Nature  has  bellowed  upon  every  one  hii  (hare,  were  a  difcreet 
ufe  made  of  her  bounty.  But  now  a-days  many  people  feelc  out 
ways  and  means  to  di'quiet  thomfelves  ;  and  what  they  wiil  be, 
they  will  be,  whitfo^-ver  hinders  them,  or  ftands  ii  their  wiy  : 
Hence  no  wonder  if  dilapoointment  attend  them  and  difqniet  their 
hop-s,  thus  deceived  and  brought  to  nought.  If  mortals  v;ould 
endeavour  to  ad  and  move  every  one  within  his  own  fphere,  we 
Ihoul  1  not  fee  fo  many  fai  and  fatal  e5fample3,  as  we  often  do,  of 
the  ruin  and  overthrow  of  man.',  whofe  ambicious  defigns  lifted 
them  up,  and  made  them  foar  for  a  while  as  it  were  with  the  wings 
of  the  Eagle,  only  that  their  fall  might  be  the  greater. 

FABLE      XXII. 

A     SPIDER     AND     THE     GOUT. 

AS  P  I  D  ER  walking  abroad  to  recreate  him- 
felf,  lighted  upon  the  Gout,  and  walked  with 
h'un  till  even- tide,  and  akerward  took  up 
his  lodging  in  a  fine  paipce,  and  fell  to  fpinning 
cob-webs,  which  were  as  fait  fwe^it  away  -,  but 
the  Gout  had  his  quarters  in  a  vzry  nafly  place, 
having  nothing  fit  to  entertain  him.  Meeting 
again  the  next  morning,  each  gave  his  fellow  an 
account  how  it  fared  with  him  the  night  paft. 
The  Spider  began  his  relation  firft,  which  was  a 
complaint  of  the  nicenefs  of  his  landlord  ;  afterward 
the  Gout  requ.ted  him  with  fuch  another  ftory  of 
ill  ufage  :  Whereupon  the  next  night  they  took 
the  quite  contrary  courfe.  The  Spider  got  inro  a 
hovel,  and  the  Gout  into  a  hall,  where  the  lord 


32 


FABLES    or     iESOPv 


of  the  manor  had  his  abode.  The  Gout  met  with 
every  thing  as  he  defired,  as  the  Spider  was  as 
well  pleafed  on  the  other  hand.  Upon  this  the 
Gout  refolvcd  henceforward  to  get  into  fome  rich 
man's  houfe,  and  the  Spider  into  a  needy  perfon's. 

The      moral. 

An  induftrious   poverty   in   a  cell,  with    quiet 
thoughts   and  found  deep,    is  infinitely  to  be   pre- 
!  :d  before  a  lazy  life  of  pomp  and  pleafure. 

The      remark* 

One  may  be  very  uneafy  with  a  plentiful  fortune,  and  as  happy 
in  -  mean  condition  ;  for  it  is  the  mind  that  makes  us  either  one 
or  the  other:  A  plain  honeft  and  temperate  condition  contents 
jtielf  with  a  little.  Where  gluttony  and  idlenefs  rule  and  bear 
fvvay,  foa.eihing  is  ftiil  wanting.  How  many  foolifh  longings  and 
wi'.^i  defircs,  poifefs  and  unquiet  the  fancy  in  fuch  a  Hate  !  We  fee 
a  r.\ilorflefcp  quietly  in  a  hammock,  without  any  cares  in  his  head, 
or  indigi.atio'i  in  his  ftcmach  ;  where  perfons  of  quality  lie  larking 
upon  a  bed  or  Rate,  with  the  qualms  and  twinges  that  accompany 
riot  and  excefs. 


FABLE       XXIII. 

The    OLD     MAN     and     DEATH. 

AN  Old  Man  carrying  a  burden  of  wood  from 
the  place  where  jt  grew,  to  his  dwelling; 
by  that  time  he  had  carried  it  halfway, 
grrw  tired  with  it,  and  fo  laid  it  down,  wifliing 
death  would  approach  and  convey  him  from  this 
life  to  a  better.  Death  was  prefently  at  his  elbow, 
and  demanded  why  he  implored  his  help?  The 
^  ^  Old 


FABLES    OP    ^  S  O  P. 


3^ 


Old  Man's  reply  was,  he  had  at  prefent  no  other 
need  of  hinfi  than  to  lade  him  afrefli,  by  helping 
him  up  with  his  burden. 

The      moral. 

Life,  be  it  as  miferable  and  wretched  as  it  will 
be,  is  ftlll  preferable  to  death,  though  it  have  none 
of  its  frightful  companions  about  it. 

The      remark. 

One  of  the  chiefeft  lefTons  Chriftianity  teaches  its  profefTors,  ia 
chearfully  and  courageoufly  to  bear  and  undergo  all  the  crofTes 
and  temptations  they  may  meet  with,  during  their  pilgrimage  in 
this  lower  and  dolcfome  world.  Death  is  always  the  conclufion  and 
period  of  life;  but  we  muft  not  call  and  halten  it  as  often  as  we 
pleafe  :  He  that  gave  us  our  being  has  ordered  us  to  preferve  and 
keep  it,  till  he  thinks  death  better  for  us  than  our  longer  abode 
here  ;  to  whofe  bleffed  will,  as  in  all  things  elfe,  fo  in  this  greaC 
point,  wemufl  fubmit  and  readily  obey. 


FABLE      XXIV. 
The  Old  WOMAN  and  PHYSICIAN. 

AN  Old  Widow  having  a  diftemper  fallen 
into  her  eyes,  fent  for  a  Phyfician,  telling 
him,  if  he  could  cure  her,  he  fiiould  re- 
ceive a  reward  from  her,  otherwife  nothing  :  The 
Phyfician,  upon  the  fore-cited  condition,  under- 
took the  cure.  He  vifited  his  patient  every  day, 
anointing  her  eyes  withr  an  ointment  he  had  pre- 
pared for  the  purpofe.  After  the  anointing  waa 
over,   away   went  the  Phyfician,  carrying  fome- 

E  thing 


34        FABLES     of    iE  SO  P. 

thing  with  him  that  belonged  to  his  patient,  be- 
ing tempted  thereunto,  becaufe  juft  at  the  anoint- 
ing (he  was  wholly  bereft  of  fight  by  its  means. 
The  woman  perceivino;  her  fubilance  by  this  means 
to  decreafe  daily,  and  that,  if  her  fight  was  re- 
flored,  (lie  might  have  nothing  to  look  upon,  the 
Phyfician  demanding  the  agreed-on  reward ;  Nay, 
rather,  replied  the  Old  Woman,  I  fee  nothing  at 
this  time :  When  I  firft  fell  amifs,  I  could  fee 
goods  of  my  own  ;  but  now  at  this  time  thou 
fayeft  I  can  fee,  they  are  got  out  of  fight. 

The      moral. 

Inthnates  to  us.  That  it  often  falls  out,  that 
wicked  and  unconfcionable  men  fall  under  the  re- 
bukes of  their  own  mifdoings,  and  vile  pradticcs^ 
unv/arily  and  unwillingly.  ^_ 

The      remark. 

The  deeds  of  unrighteous  men  at  laft  find  them  out,  and  betray 
them  to  ihame  and  mifery.  Whilft  the  Phyfician  was  bufy  to 
brir.g  the  patient  to  her  fight  again,  he  was  no  lefs  aftive  in  bring- 
ing his  own  thievery  to  light;  for  which  he  rather  deferved  a 
gibbet,  than  a  reward  from  his  pillaged  patient.  This  is  nothing 
elfc  but  for  a  man  to  cut  his  fhins  with  his  own  hatchet,  and  to 
hale  down  mifchief  upon  his  own  empty  and  fenfelefs  noddle. 

FABLE       XXV. 

The    woman  and  drunken    HUSBAND. 

j^nr^  WAS   a  woman's  misfortune  to  be  joined 
-*•     in  matrimony  to  a  drunken  Hufband.     Be- 
ing delirous   to  iTce    him  from  that  abominable 

vice. 


FABLES    OF     iESOP, 


35 


vice,  (he  took  this  courfe  to  efFt<S  it :  Seeing 
him  once  very  drowfy,  by  reafon  of  the  fit  of 
druRkcnnefs  he  was  then  in,  (lie  took  him  upon 
her  back,  and  carried  him  into  a  vault  in  the 
church-yard,  where  fhe  left  him,  and  went  hsr 
way.  When  (he  thought  he  was  come  to  hlmfelf, 
fhe  returned  thither,  and  he  afked  who  it  was 
that  knocked  ?  His  wife  made  anfwer,  It  is  I,  who 
who  have  brought  a  meal  for  a  deid  perfon  ! 
To  which  the  Drunkard  replied,  Gentle  Sir,  a 
botde  or  two  of  (Irong  liquor  would  have  been 
more  acceptable  than  any  kick-fha^v  of  any  kind 
whatfoever;  I  am  fad  at  hearing  I  muft  make  a 
meal  without  liquor.  But  flie,  ftriking  her  breaft, 
faid,  Miferable  Woman  that  I  am,  this  device 
avails  me  nothing ;  for  tbou,  Hufbanj,  art  not 
amended  by  it,  rather  thou  art  worfe  than  before  : 
The  difpolition,  I  fear,  being  alio  grown  a  habit. 

The      moral. 

The  tale  gives  us  warning  of  the  danger  a  con- 
tinuance in  a  wicked  courfe  of  life  may  bring  us 
into  I  for  oftentimes,  when  he  that  is  in  it  would 
give  over,  and  forfake  it,  he  cannot. 

The      REiMARK. 

'Tis  too  well  known,  cuftom  is  a  fecond  nature.  A  naughty- 
habit  rteals  upon  us  unawares,  before  we  perceive  it ;  and  once  got, 
is  not  eafy  ihook  ofF  and  parted  with.  Nothing  can  prevail  with 
us  to  divorce  ourfelves  from  a  beloved  hift  we  have  for  forn'^  time 
been  wedded  to  :  So  ftrong  and  powerful  are  its  charms,  that  death 
itfelf,  as  terrible  as  it  is,  cannot  fright  us  from  hugging  and  carcfling 
it.  This  poifonoas  viper  we  will  cherifti  in  our  bofom,  though  we 
are  fure   that  erelong   his  poifon   vvili  give  us  a  mortal  wound, 

and 


36        F  A  B  L  E  S    o  p     iE  S  O  P. 

^nd  punifh  us  as  we  deferve.  An  old,  Stubborn,  rooted  habit, 
what  a  difficult  tafk,  good  God !  what  a  toil  it  is,  wholly  to  van- 
quifh  and  get  an  entire  vidlory  over  it!  The  ciitiing  off  Hydr-a's 
head  aflcs  the  utmoft  ftrength  and  effort  of  Hercules  ;  but  to  tame 
an  inordinate  defire  that  has  for  fome  time  ruled  us,  is  paft  the 
power  of  moft  mortals. 


FABLE      XXVL 
HUSBANDMAN    and    his    SONS. 

A  HUSBANDMAN  knowing  he  had  not  long 
to  live,  called  his  fons  together,  and  earned- 
ly  exhorted  them  to  follow  his  calling, 
commending  a  Hufbandman's  life  to  them  :  Fur- 
ther telling  them,  that  if  they  diligently  and  pain- 
fully cultivated  his  vineyard,  they  (hould  find  a 
treafurc  of  very  great  value  he  had  in  it.  This 
v/elcome  new^s  cheared  their  hearts,  and  filled 
them  with  extraordinary  hopes  of  finding  a  great 
deal  of  treafure ;  and  without  more  ado  fell  to  dig- 
ging the  vineyard,  not  leaving  a  foot  of  it  unturn- 
ed :  However,  after  all  the  hoped  for  treafure,  they 
met  not  v/ith  any  :  But  neverthelefs,  the  vineyard 
being  thus  bravely  dreffed,  and  ordered,  made 
them  an  ample  fatisfadion  for  the  pains  and  la- 
bour they  had  bellowed  on  it. 

The    moral. 

The  tale  fets  before  us^  that  by  induftry  men 
thrive  and  ,grovv  rich, 

The 


FABLES     Of    ^SOP. 


The     remark. 


i7 


Honeft  labour  never  fails,  never  mifTes  its  due  reward  and  re- 
compence.  What  elfe  is  virtue  itfelP,  the  faireft  and  nobleft  orna- 
mtnt  of  mankind,  but  pains  married  to  ingenuity?  And  happy, 
thrice  happy  is  he  in  whom  they  meet  and  are  joined.  How  fweet 
does  his  timepafs  away  !  whatever  befalls  him,  this  quiets  his  mind, 
and  thereby  he  enjoys  a  complete  reft,  and  is  out  of  the  reach  of 
all  care  and  trouble.  This  world,  that  lo  moft  is  a  fort  of  hell, 
proves  to  him,  by  means  of  it,  a  real  and  fenfible  Paradife.  This 
remark  fets  before  you,  and  brings  to  your  view,  a  true  virtuofo, 
the  men  of  men,  and  what  not. 


FABLE       XXVIL 

The     weasel     and     FILE. 

A  WEASEL  running  into  a  Brafier's  (hop,  got 
-^^  to  licking  a  File  that  lay  there  5  fo  that  a 
great  deal  of  blood  ran  down  his  tongue  as  he 
licked.  But  the  heedlefs  Weafel  thought  his  blood 
to  be  the  Brafier's  filings  only,  until  he  had  quite 
filed  away  his  tongue,  and  then  he  found  his 
miftake. 

The      moral. 

Is  levelled  at  fuch  that,  in  quarrels  and  brawls^ 
get  harm  and  mifchief  before  they  are  aware. 

The     R  E  M  a  R  Ki 

Shews,  that  tho*  nature  has  endowed  every  creature  with  a  prin- 
ciple of  felf.prefervation,  yet  their  unruly  appetites  hurry  them 
blindly  on  to  their  own  deilruclion. 

FABLE 


38        FABLES     of     iE  S  O  P. 

FABLE       XXVIil. 
The   flies    in    the  H  O  N  E  Y-P  O  TS. 

TH  E  Flies  having  got  into  a  buttery  where 
Honey- pots  flood,  fell  a-eating  of  the  honey  ; 
when  they  had  got  a  good  belly- full,  they 
were  going  off,  but  found  their  feet  faft  :  They 
ftruggling  to  get  loofe,  fo  entangled  themfelves, 
that  being  almoft  flified,  they  cried  out.  What 
wretches  are  we  to  pay  fo  dear  for  fuch  a  fliort 
banquet  ? 

The      moral. 
The  fable  (hews  gluttony  has   deftroyed  many. 

The      REMARK. 

Intemperance  has  always  proved  fatal  nnd  deftruftive.  Daily 
experience  confirms  the  truth.  A  glutton  feldom  lives  out  half  his 
days  ;  therefore  fiy  from  this  vice  as  from  the  mod  poifonous  fer- 
pcKt.  How  many  have  been  deftroyed  by  a  debauch  !  It  is  but 
jufl  that  they  who  trample  upon  the  laws  of  nature,  and  make 
thcmfelves  worfe  than  the  brute  beafts,  fhould  come  to  an  untimely 
end.  How  many  inftances  dc€s  hiftory  give  us,  of  fuch  as  have 
been  fairly,  but  were  at  lafl:  miferably  deftroyed  by  this  vice  !  A 
famous  example  we  have  in  the  perfon  of  Alexander  the  Great, 
who  foon  fubciued  naticns,  while  he  continued  moderate  and  fober, 
till,  at  laft,  this  ^reat  conqueror  was  himfelf  conquered  by  drunk- 
cnnefs,  and  fo  put  an  end  at  once  both  to  his  lite  and  conqaefts. 
Vvhat  adifmal  fpeftacle  is  a  drunkard,  or  glutton,  caft  upon  his 
fick-bed,  under  the  heavy  load  of  lothfome  diftempers  !  and  how 
wifely  does  the  wifeft  of  men  obferve,  **  Who  hath  wo?  who  hath 
*'  forrow  ?  v/ho  hath  rednefs  of  eyes  ?  but  he  that  tarrieth  at  the 
<*  wine." 

FABLE 


FABLES     OP     iESOP.         39 

FABLE       XXIX. 

The     mistress     and     her     MAID. 

A  MISTRESS  taking  a  liking  to  a  Girl,  was 
refolved  to  hire  her,  to  whom  the  Maid 
agreed,  and  fo  became  the  fervanr.  The 
Miftrefs  did  her  part,  being  rather  too  kind.  The 
Maid,  after  a  while,  grew  weary  of  her  fervice, 
and  by  that  nieans  the  Miftreis  was  no  lefs  tired 
with  her.  After  feveral  fliarp  rebukes,  (he  refolved 
to  be  even  with  her  Miilrefs,  and  ufed  this  device : 
She  ftrewed  the  ftairs  with  peafc,  thinking  there- 
by to  give  her  Miftrefs  a  fall ;  but  forgetting  what 
(he  had  done  the  next  morning,  catched  a  ihrew's 
fall  herfelf. 

The      MORAL. 

Harm  watch,  harm  catch  j  knaves  and  villains 
often  contrive  their  own  ruin. 

The      remark. 

Ingratitude  feldom  goes  unpuniftied,  too  much  gentlenefs  is  oft- 
times  more  hurtful  and  fatal  than  too  much  feverity.  Eafe  and 
plenty  makes  fervants  often  negligent  of  their  duty.  If  they  are 
reproved  by  Mailer  or  Miftrefs,  they  malicioufly  lludy  their  ruin. 
Wicked  contrivances  often  fall  heavy  on  the  contrivers  5  and  me n. 
are  ufually  caught  in  the  fnare  they  have  laid  for  o;hers. 


FABLE 


I 


40        F  A  B  L  E  S    OF     iE  S  0  P. 

FABLE      XXX. 

The  GRASHOPPER  and  PISMIRES. 

IN  the  winter-feafon  the  Pifmires  grew  cold,  by 
reafon  of  the  moiftnefs  of  their  food  ;  however, 
an  hungry  Grafliopper  afked  an  alms  of  them  ; 
they  anfwered,  Why  do  you  not  in  fummer  lay  up 
for  the  Winter  ?  The  Grafhopper  replied,  I  am 
not  at  leifure  for  figging  to  the  country-fwains 
all  the  feafon.  Nay  then,  fald  the  frowning 
Pifmires,  fmce  in  fummer  thou  piped,  thou  muft 
even  dance  in  winter. 

The      moral. 

Teaches  us  to  be  careful  and  diligent  in  all  cur 
affairs,  on  all  occaiions,  left  reproach,  grief,  and 
(hame   overtake  us. 

The      remark. 

We  were  fent  into  the  world  to  toil,  and  thereby  to  earn  our  daily 
bread.  It  is  no  wor*der  to  fee  him  fall  in  danger,  who  will  not 
forefcc  it,  and  feel  mif^ry  who  will  not  prevent  it.  To  provide 
againft  a  wet  day  is  both  commendable  and  neceffary.  Who  can 
tell  v/hat  may  happen  ?  What  we  little  think  of  may  befal  us.  We 
cannot  fufnciently  fence  againft  the  calamities  which  abound  every 
where  in  this  world.  The  more  careful  we  are  to  prevent  tribula- 
tion, the  lefs  grievous  and  irkfome  will  it  piove.  Solomon  fends 
the  fluggard  to  the  ant  to  learn  induliry  ;  and  ic  is  a  ihame  to  find 
men  endued  with  reafonable  fouls  come  fo  far  ihort  of  beafts  :  For 
certainly,  if  men  were  in  many  things  as  provident  as  brute  beads, 
we  fliould  fee  fewer  go  to  the  gallows. 


FABLE 


FABLES    OF     iE  S  O  P.         4I 

FABLE       XXXL 
The     lying     MOLE. 

MOST  people  think  that  a  Mole  is  blind  S 
He,  on  a  time,  faid  to  his  dame,  I  fee  a 
fycamore  tree.  He  faid  to  her  another 
time.  There  muft  be  (ome  frankincenfc  here- 
abouts, for  I  fmell  it.  He  faid  to  her  a  third 
time,  I  hear  the  noife  of  a  brafcn  ball.  His  mo- 
ther taking  him  up,  anfwered  thus  :  Son,  I  now 
plainly  perceive,  thou  art  as  void  of  hearing  and 
fmelling  as  of  fight. 

T  H  E      M  O  R  A  L. 

Plainly  fhews,  that  many  boafters  promife  great 
and  wonderful  things,  who,  when  put  to  the  trials 
can  hardly  perform  fmall  ones. 

The      remark. 

Great  boaft  and  little  roaft  ;  as  it  is  with  dogs,  To  it  is  with 
crackers,  and  vain  braggers.  The  loaded  boafters  are  moft  in  end 
the  leaft  performers.  Saying  and  doing  are  different  things  ; 
talking  is  not  performing.  If  words  alone  could  do,  a  ladder  had 
been  found  out  before  this  time,  which  would  have  reached  the 
moon ;  f0  that  from  thence  a  nearer  profped  had  been  taken  of* 
the  ftars.  Noifc  can  only  afFed  the  ear,  prattle  will  never  butter 
parfnips. 


FABLE 


42        F"  A  B  L  E  S    OF    JE  SO  P; 

FABLE      XXXII. 
The  M  is  tress  and  her  MAIDENS. 

A  LABORIOUS  and  thrifty  Widow  ufually 
called  her  Maidens  tc^Qaeir  work  at  the  crow- 
ing of  the  cock  :  The  toil  at  laft  growing 
irkicme  and  grievous  to  them,  made  them  think 
of  this  device  for  their  eafe.  They  imputed  their 
early  riling  every  morning  to  the  noifc  the  cock 
made  ;  and  therefore,  to  make  fure  work,  at  once 
put  an  end  to  his  noife  and  his  life.  But  the 
remedy  proved  worfe  than  the  difeafe ;  for  the  old 
Widow,  deprived  of  her  watchman,  called  them 
up,  for  the  moil  part,  fooner  than  before. 

The       moral. 

Tells  us  in  very  plain  terms,  that  many,  and 
too  many,  devife  and  contrive  their  own  harm  and 
mifchief. 

The       remark. 

Many  know  not  when  they  are  well,  and  are  therefore  often 
■.altering  their  condition  and  way  of  living.  They  foon  turn 
weary  of  what  is  prcfent,  and  always  reftlefs  ;  fuch  are  their  own. 
difturbers,  who  often  leek  their  eafe  and  quiet  by  fuch  indireft 
pra(^ice^,  that  they  often  have  caufe  to  repent  of  them.  Men 
Ihould  think  before  they  change,  left  they  change  for  the  worfe. 
The  foolilh  wenches  in  the  Fable  muft  kill  the  Cock  for  wakening 
them  too  (oon,  and  fo  by  thinking  they  Ihould  have  much  more 
fieep,  it  happened  they  had  almoft  no  flcep  at  all. 


FABLE 


FABLES     OF     ^SOP.        43 

FABLE     xxxnr. 

MERCURY     ANDTHE     CARVER. 

MERCURY,  defirous  to  know  what  repute 
he  had  in  the  wo: Id,  went  into  a  Carver*s 
(hop  in  the  fliape  of  a  man,  Looking 
about  him,  he  efpied  Jupiter's  image,  ^nd  cheip- 
ened  it:  The  Carver  aflc.d  a  groat.  Afterward 
he  cheapened  Juno's,  for  which  he  afked  more. 
At  laft,  !eeing  his  own  image,  not  doubting  but 
the  Carver  would  value  it  at  a  great  rate,  as  being 
mtffenger  to  the  gods,  and  patron  or  tradtf men, 
a(ked  the  price  of  it  :  Why.  truly,  lays  the  Carver, 
give  me  but  my  price  for  ihe  other  two,  and  you 
(hall  have  that  into  the  bargain. 

The      MORAL. 

This  Fable  reproves  fuch,  who,  fetting  too  high 
a  value  upon  themfelves,  appear  by  lo  much  the 
more  delpicabic  to  others. 

The       REMARK. 

A  fond  conceit  where  it  prevails,  is  of  bad  confequence,  and 
commonly  meets  with  contempt  and  fcorn.  A  country  girl  drefTed 
up  for  a  fair  or  a  wedding,  fancies  herfelf  prelently  to  be  lome 
dutchefs.  What  a  fair  creature  does  a  Peacock  think  himfelf  while 
he  gazes  on  his  fine  p.iinted  tail,  not  confidering  hii  ugly  paw, 
and  frightful  cry  ?  There  are  feverals  who  think  ihemfelves  no 
fools,  are  ;jpt  to  fancy  that  others  have  the  fame  opinion  of  them 
that  they  have  of  thcnifelves. 

FABLE 


44        FABLES    of     ^SOP; 

FABLE      XXXIV. 
The     FOV/LER     and    SNAKE, 


A 


FOWLER  having  provided  twigs,  and  bird- 
lime, went  on  to  try  his  art  5  having  efpied 
a  thrufli  fitting  en  a  high  tree-hard  by,  he 
prefeniiy  made  all  things  leady  to  catch  her  as 
his  prey  ;  but  had  the  misfortune  10  tread  upon  a 
Snake  flrt^pina  at  the  root  of  a  tree,  which  pre- 
feniiy *w^eilii.^  With  anger,  bit  him  mortally:  So 
the  unhappy  Fowler  liniChed  bis  life  with  this 
fad  complaint:  Poor  wsetch  that  I  cm  !  whilft  1 
feek  and  thirft  after  another's  life,  alas !  I  fall  a 
prey  to  a  poifonous  Viper, 

The       moral. 

This  Fable  teaches  us,  that  many,  whilfl:  they 
go  about  to  enfnare  their  neighbours,  meet  with 
the  lame  fato  from  others,  who  arc  no  lefs  bufy  to 
entrap  them. 

The       remark. 

Contrivers  of  mifchief  often  meet  with  mifchief:  They  who 
think  to  catQh  others,  are  often  prevented  in  their  malicious  defigns, 
rnd  lofe  tht/r  lives  by  accidents,  which  they  cannot  forefec. 
Thoagh  daily  experience  flievvs  this  to  be  true;  yet  fo  great  is  the 
devil's  power  over  wicked  men,  that  they  will  ftill  plot  and  feek 
the  ruin  ever,  of  the  ha  mleH.  and  innocent.  Would  mankind  but 
thrr  ic  {(^rlocCiy  on  the  laws  of  nature,  which  teach  us  to  do  to  others 
whiit  vvc  vvould  hsvedone  to  ourfelves,  we  ftiould  not  find  fo  many 
inftance?  of  cruelty  i  ru!  malice  among  Chriftians,  which  even  the 
V^ry  Heathens  are  incapable  of. 

FABLE 


FABLES    OP    ^SOP.        45 

FABLE      XXXV. 

The     witch. 

A  WITCH  profefling  a  great  (kill  in  pacify- 
-^^  irg  the  angry-gods,  when  provoked  againfl 
a  wicked  people,  grew  (o  fuccefsful,  that  (he  be- 
came a  great  gainer  thereby  j  but,  being  indi(fled 
for  witchcraft,  was  found  guilty,  condemned,  and 
afterwards  carried  to  the  place  of  execution. 
Whereupon  one  feeing  her  pafs  by,  gave  her  this 
fliarp  taunt.  How  couldft  thou  flbew  others  the 
way  to  appeafe  God's  wraib,  and  not  now  help  and 
reHeve  thyfelf,  when  under  the  fame  dreadful  judg- 
ment and  calamity  ? 

The      moral. 

Shews  us  the  folly  and  madnefs  of  too  many, 
who,  after  great  promifes  and  brags,  can  really 
perform  nothing. 

The      remark. 

To  teach  others  to  get  out  of  tke  briers,  whilft  we  arc  ourfelves 
fo  far  entangled,  that  we  cannot  get  out,  is  both  fad  and  ridicul- 
ous. Hence  we  may  lea^n  and  remember  this  ufeful  lelion,  viz. 
How  unfafe  and  dangerous  it  is  to  believe,  and  much  more  to  rely 
upon  the  vain  promifes  and  idle  vapours  of  mere  pretenders,  and 
bare-faced  chfats. 


FABLE 


46         F  A  B  L  E  S     o  F     i£  S  O  P. 

FABLE      XXXVI. 
The      mule. 

AMLFLE  over-fed,  tamed  wanton  and  fkit- 
ti/h,  fell  a-kicklng  and  braying  ;  moreover 
bragged  that  his  father  was  as  lw?ft  as  any 
Barbary  courfer,  and  ,  that  he  was  every  way,  and 
in  all  refpeds,  like  him.  Soon  after,  being  obliged 
10  run  a  little  way,  foon  grew  weary,  remembered 
that  an  als  begat  him* 

The      moral. 

This  Fable  -(caches  this  plain  kflbn,  that  tho' 
men  may  rife  confiderably  in  the  worlds  however 
Should  not  forget  what  diey  are,  and  from  whence 
they  came  :  And  (eeing  eart^^ly  things  are  uncer- 
tain, the  higher  they  (land,  the  looncr  their  fall 
may  be. 

The      remark. 

An  ancient  poet  left  behind  him  that  wholeforre  advice,  Avoid 
a  higiT  dation  :  For  he  that  Hands  there  fhould  take  heed  that  he 
fall  not.  What  a  world  of  examples  are  to  be  fee n  every  day  of 
this  kind  •'  No  journals,  no  annals  are  without  plenty  of  iuch  dii^ 
roal  inftances  :  To-day  a  Prince,  to-morrow  'a  beggar,  and  much 
more  miferable  and  wretched.  St.  Paul  gives  us  a  wholefoir.e  ad- 
vice, **  Let  him  that  thinkeih  he  (lands,  take  heed  left  he  fall  " 
Iiow  many  think  ihemfclves  fecure  in  their  ricflfes,  high  pofts, 
and  acquired  honours  ?  but  they  ilhould  remember  their  days  of 
adverfity  ;  for  what  Solomon  fays  of  all  earthly  enjoyments,  is' 
confirmed  by  daily  experience,  "  vanity  of  vanities,  all  is  vanity.'* 

FABLE 


FABLES    OF    JE  S  O  F.        47 
FABLE      XXXVII. 

r 

A     SON     AND     H18     MOTHER. 

AB  O  Y  ftealing   a  book  at  fchool,  brought  it 
home  to  his  Mother  :  She  countenancing  her 
child    in    that    naughty    courfe,    encouraged 
him   in  procefs   of  time»  to  ileal  things  of  greater 
value  :   At  laft  being   catched  in    the  fad,  he  was 
found  guilty,   and  condemned.      As  he  was  going 
to   the   place   of  execution,   his  Mother  followed 
him,    fadly  bewailing   his  cafe.      Upon  which  the 
Malcfador   dcfired  that  his  Mother   might  fpcak 
to  him.     She  came  according  to  his  requeft  -,  and 
whilft  (he  liltened  to  hear  what  he  would   fay,   he 
bit  off  one  of  her  ears.      And  being  chid  for  what 
he  did  by   the  company,   he  exculed    himfelf  by 
telling  them,  That  his  Mother,  and  no  body  elfc, 
was    the   caufe  of  his   deftrudion  :  For   had  (lie 
chaftifed  me  (faid  he)  for  my  foul    offence,  1  had 
no  longer  followed  the  trade  of  ftealing,  but  might 
have    lived    honelily,    and    by    that    means    have 
elcaped  this  fhamefui  death. 

The      moral. 

Plainly  declares  to  us.  That  wickednefs,  of  what 
kind  foever,  if  not  fpeedily  curbed,  will  quickly 
bring  people  to  an  untimely  end. 


The 


p^    '48        FABLES     OF     iE  S  O  P. 


The      remark.' 

That  parent  that  has  perufed  Solomon's  admirable  proverbs^ 
will  there  perceive  how  much  wicked  children  ftand  in  need  of 
corrcdlion  :  Which  muft  b.^  applied  as  foon  as  i«- is  needful.  No 
diftemper  of  body  and  mind  can  efFedlually  be  removed,  without  a 
proper  and  fuitable  remedy.  A  vice  let  alone  becomes  ftronger, 
and  takes  daily  a  deeper  root,  until,  at  length,  it  turns  natural^ 
and  becomes  remedilefs.  What  a  remarkable  example  doth  the 
ieripture  give  of  this  in  Eli,  and  his  fans  >  How  fatal  was  his 
fondnefs,  and  too  good  humour,  not  only  to  his  children,  but  to 
all  Ifrael  ?  So  that  parents  ought  to  confider,  that  in  the  bad  educa- 
tion they  give  to  their  children,  they  not  only  do  them  harm,  bat 
their  country. 


FABLE       XXXVIII. 

The       BRAGGER. 

A  GREAT  traveller  returning  home  to  his 
native  country,  bragged  of  fundry  notable 
exploits  which  he  had  performed  in  foreign 
parts  :  Particularly  he  told  how  he  had  jumped 
fuch  a  jump  in  the  ifland  of  Rhodes,  that  none 
living  could  do  the  like  ;  and  that  a  great  many  of 
the  Rhcdians  (if  they  were  prefenc)  could  bear 
witnefs  that  what  he  faid  was  true.  One  of  the 
ftanders'by  aniwcring,  faid.  Sir,  if  what  you  fay  is 
true,  there  is  no  need  of  vouchers,  only  fancy  this 
place  is  Rhodes,  and  let  us  fee  fuch  a  jump  here. 

The      moral. 

This  Fable  fhews  us,  that  if  the  proof  of  a  thing 
be  not    ready  and  at  hand,    whatever    elfe  can  be 

produced 


FABLES     OF     iESOP.         49 

produced  in  its  behalf  is  of  no  force,  and  altoge- 
ther innpertincnt. 

The.    remark. 

Boafting  is  but  very  feldom  excufable.  Yet  what  abundance  of 
foolilh  fops  doth  this  age  produce,  who,  by  their  b-^afting  and 
bragging,  teaze  every  company  they  fit  in.  Wire  mtw  are,  for 
their  own  part,  fparing  of  their  own  actions  ;  for  who  dwell  molt 
on  that  {ubjedt,  are  commonly  looked  on  to  be  guilty  of  par- 
tiality, and  fometimes  of  untruth. 


FABLE       XXXIX. 
The      dogs. 

A  CERTAIN  perfon  kept  two  Dogs,  the  one 
for  the  houfe,  the  other  for  game*  Whea 
the  game-dog  catched  any  thing,  the  houfe- 
dog  had  a  (hare,  at  which  the  game-dog  grudged, 
and  upbraiding  the  other,  told  him,  he  lived  by  big 
labour,  and  was  at  no  pains  to  get  his  own  liveli- 
hood. The  houfe- dog,  vexed  with  this  fliarp 
taunt,  excufed  himfelf,  faying,  You  fliould  blame 
my  mader,  not  me,  whom  he  never  taught  to  do 
any  thing. 

The      moral. 

Informs  us,  That  fuch  as  underftand  little,  are 
not  fo  much  to  be  found  fault  with  as  their  pa- 
rents, who  took  no  care  of  their  education. 


Thjb 


50        FABLES    of     JE  S  O  V. 


The      remark. 

Better  unborn  than  untaught.  Good  education  is  the  moft  va- 
luable th-pcr  a  parent  can  bellow  upon  his  child.  The  great  ad- 
vantage that  attends  an  early  and  good  education,  is  what  every- 
one is  (o  fenfible  of,  that  there  is  no  need  to  fpeak  any  more  about 
it.  How  many  born  of  mean  parents  have  raifed  ihemfelves  and 
friends,  by  their  virtuous  education,  to  great  honour  and  much 
wealth  ?  A  little  coft  and  charge  this  way  has  often  made  a  vaft 
return. 


FABLE      XL. 
The     C  A  M  E  L. 

AT  the  Camers  firfl:  appearance  in  the  world, 
moft  creatures  were  afraid  to  come  near  it, 
by  reafon  of  its  unnatural  bu  k,  and  odd 
fhape.  But  in  procefs  cf  time,  they  perceiving 
his  gentlenefs,  ventured  to  come  near  him.  Soon 
after,  finding  that  he  was  a  harmlefs  creature, 
they  bridled  him,  and  caukd  the  very  children  to 
lead  him  up  and  down,  and  made  him  their  game. 

The      moral. 

Cuflom  and  ufe  make  things  eafy  which  at  firfl: 
view  appeared  hard,  and  that  contemptible  which 
at  firft  was  dreadful. 

The      remark. 

Ufe  and  cuftom  are  (I  may  fay)   a  fecond  nature.     They  make 
things  eafy  and  delightful,  which  at  firft  view  feemed  ftrange,  hard, 

and 


FABLES     OF     iESOP.         51 

and  even  frightful.  Good  nature  is  often  abufed  :  Men,  as  well 
as  children,  are  ^pt  to  make  their  game,  no:  only  of  inferiors,  but 
alfo  offuperiors.  Good  nature  has  made  fubjects  turn  too  familiar 
even  with  their  fovereigns. 

FABLE       XLI. 
A     HUNTED     BEAVER. 

THE  Biavsr   (as  people  fay)  can  d^y  longer  ia 
the  Wiitif  th^n  any  foui-toot  d    bealh     His 
ftones   are    rc-ckoued  !o  be  good   ia   phy nc : 
Wh-^n  be  fincis  himself  purJued   by  the  huntcir,  he 
bites  them  off,  iind  leaves  theai,  and  by  this  means 
hvQS  his  liie. 

The      MORAL. 

This  Fable  (hews,  ihat  all  men  ought  to  part 
wiih  their  mod  valuable  things  to  fave  tneir  lives, 
when  in  danger. 

The      remark. 

Nature  hath  endued  all  creatures  with  feif-prefervation.  Nor 
Ihould  men  take  care  of  ihtmil-ivcs  only,  buc  aiTv^or  ih^ir  c«;uatry  : 
For  w  .ca  government  is  in  dani^er,  every  good  fubje>t,  without 
grudging  and  murmuring,  ought  to  part  wiin  goods  and  elLita  to 
prevent  its  ruin. 

FABLE      XLIi. 

The     daw     hung  by  the  FOOT. 

A    COUNTRY-fellow  catched  a  Diw,  and  tied 

^  a  firing  to  his  leg,  and  fo gave  him  to  a  child 

to  play  witnai ;  but  the  Daw  turned  foon  weary  of 

his 


52        FABLES     oFiESO  p. 

his  play-fellow,  and  gave  him  the  flip  as  foon  as 
he  found  his  opportunity,  and  v/ent  off  to  the 
woods  with  the  firing,  which  fhackled  him  fo  that 
he  ftarved  :  But  as  he  was  dying,  he  (ore  repented 
his  folly,  in  going  back  to  ftarvc  in  the  woods, 
rather  than  to  lead  an  eafy  life  among  men. 

The      moral. 

Mens  humour  and  fancy  are  often  the  caufe  of 
their  uneafinefs ;  but  where  content  is,  there  is 
happinefs. 

The      remark. 

How  many  are  impatient  let  their  condition  be  never  fo  eafy, 
and  will  dill  be  chopping  and  changing,  though  commonly  they 
chacge  for  the  worfe,  as  the  Daw  did  here  in  the  fable,  who  brought 
himfelf  to  a  ftarving  condition,  feeking  after  liberty,  wheif.as  he 
might  have  lived  eafily  and  plentifully  under  a  fm.all  confinement  ? 
licvv  manv  are  to  be  feen  daily,  v^ho,  after  a  loofe  and  idle  life, 
which  bring  them  to  mifery,  and  often  to  ruin  and  difgrace,  fee 
their  folly  when  it  is  too  Ute  r  Liberty,  'tis  true,  is  a  very  defirable 
thing,  but  iome  people  milUke  it  much,  who  fuppofe  ihat  they 
want  liberty  if  they  are  confined  to  an  honeft  trade  or  employment, 
whereby  they  may  do  their  duty  in  that  ftate;  whereas,  to  be  wholly 
l^iven  to  a  lazy  and  fluggifh  temper,  which  they  falfely  call  Li- 
berty, is  the  worft  of  flaveries. 


FABLE      XLIII. 
The     crow     and     PIGEON. 


A 


PIGEON  that  was  brought  up  in  a  dove- 

houfe,   meeting  with  a  Crow,  told  him  in  a 

vain  and  bragging  way,  how  fruitful  (he  was, 

ivhat  a  number  of  young  ones  fl:ie  had.  I^ever 

value 


FABLES    OF    JE  S  O  ?.        53 

value  yrurfelf  too  much  upon  that  (fays  the  Crow) 
for  the  more  children,  the  more  forrow. 

The      moral. 

Many  children,    when  they  prove  good,   are  a 
great  bleffing  j  but  if  bad  they  are  as  great  a  carle. 

The      remark. 

Parents  are  often  pufFcd  up,  and  too  vain,  if  they  have  a  number 
of  children  ;  but  they  are  ieldom  taken  up  with  the  care  of  their 
education  Whereof  comes  to  pafs,  that  they  often  prove  crofles 
rather  'xian  comforts,  flow  many  inftances  of  this  have  we  heard 
of  in  all  ages,  and  fee  but  too  many  in  this  we  live  in  ? 


FABLE       XLIV. 

The     fox     and     CRAB. 

AN  hungry  Fox  efpied  a  Crab  lying  on  thefand 
by    the    fea- fide,    ran,    and    fnatched  it  up. 
The  Crab  finding  that   he   was  to  be  eaten, 
faid  thus.  No  better  could  come   of  it,  I  had   no- 
thing  to  do  here,  for  my  bufincfs  was  at  fca,  not 
upon  the  land. 

The      moral. 

No  body  pities  a  man  for  any  misfortune  that 
befals  him,  for  meddling  v/ith  things  out  of  his 
way. 


The 


54        FABLES    of     ^SOP. 


The      remark. 

Some  men  arc  fo  very  curious  in  prying  into  the  affairs  and  con- 
cerns of  others,  that  taey  often  gcc  a  greai  deal  of  ill-will.  Others 
there  are,  who  can  never  be  at  rert,  but  love  to  be  ihifting  and 
changing,  and  when  wdl,  cannot  hold  .hemfdves  well.  A  third 
fort  mtre  i^,  who,  bv  meddling  with  things  above  their  reach,  often 
bring  themfelves  ^nd  friends  to  utter  luin,  for  which  they  may 
thank  chemfflves.  You  fnall  hardly,  now-adays,  fee  a  Ccbler  or  a 
Tinker  in  auale-houie,  but  will  be  nibbling  at  it  ate -affairs. 


FABLE       XLV. 
The     reed     and     OLIVE. 

THERE  was  a  difpute  between  the  Reed  and 
the  Olive,  which  was  the  luftietl,  flrongeft, 
and  firmeft  The  Olive  upbraided  rhe  Reed 
as  frail,  and  yielding  to  every  wind.  The  Reed 
was  for  foaie  time  without  returning  an  anfwer, 
but  not  long  :  For  a  violent  wind  arifing,  the 
Re  d  was  (haken  and  tolled  by  its  fury,  which 
the  Olive  endeavouring  to  refift,  was  broken. 

The      MORAL. 

This  Fable  (hews,  that  thofe  who  on  occafion 
give  way  iu  inch  as  are  ftronger,  obtain  their  ends 
iociier  than  lha(e  who  obftinately  refift. 

The      remark. 

It  is  folly,  we  commonly  fay,  to  Urive  r.gainft  the  tide.  We 
often  fee  the  proud  and  loicy  brought  down  and  humbled  ;  whereas 
they  that  are  mean  and  lowly  in   their   own  conceit,   frequently 

come 


FABLES    OF    iESOP. 


5S 


come  either  to  honoijr  or  renown,  or  at  lead  they  efcape  thefe 
checks  and  turn?  of  adverfity,  that  the  high  and  mighty  ones  are 
fubjc^  to.  Thunder  oftener  breaks  on  i^i  h  mountains  than  on  low 
vallies  ;  and  tall  oaks  and  cedars  are  fpht  to  pieces,  when  the  low 
Ihrubs  go  free.  How  often  do  we  fee  thofe  ihac  ufe  all  arts  and 
contrivances,  to  come  to  the  highed  of  honours  and  preferments, 
(from  whence,  as  from  a  high  tower,  they  look  down  with  contempt 
and  'legled  on  thafe  they  tfiought  their  inferiors),  lliuck  dovvn  oa 
a  fudden  from  the  height  of  their  grandeur,  and  become  as  mean 
and  contemptible  in  the  fight  of  thofe  they  defpifcd,  as  the  poorell 
country-fellow,  who,  content  with  his  homely  condition,  never  aims 
at  any  other  advantage  than  to  fecure  himfelf  and  family  from  po- 
verty and  hunger  ? 

FABLE       XLVI. 

A  wicked  Wretch  undertakes  to  beguile  Apollo. 

A  WICKED  Wrefch  went  to  Delphos,  with  a 
•^^  defign  to  trick  Apollo,  thus  :  He  held  a  living 
Sparrow  in  his  hand  under  his  cloak,  and  ap- 
proaching the  altar,  put  this  quellion  to  the  god  : 
O  Apolio  !  may  it  pleafc  thee,  tell  me,  whether 
this  which  I  hold  in  my  hand  be  living  or  dead  ? 
Intending  to  (hew  the  Sparrow  alive,  if  Apollo 
(hc/uld  fay  it  was  dead  j  or  to  ^ueeze  it  to  death 
in  his  hand,  under  his  clo^k,  (hould  Apollo  (ay  it 
was  alive.  But  Apollo  knov/ing  the  cunning  of 
the  man,  anfwered,  You  need  not  afic  my  advice 
on  that  head  ;  for  it  being  in  your  power,  jou 
may  fhow  it  dead  or  alive,  as  you  think  fit. 

The      MORAL. 

This  Fable  fiicws,  that  'tis  vain  for  us  to  thir.k 
that  we  can  hide  any  thing  from  God,  who  fees 
and  knows  all  things. 

The 


56        FABLES    of     ^ESOP. 


The     remark. 

Men  always  deceive  themfelves  when  they  think  to  deceive  God. 
They  mall  have  very  weak  thoughts  of  God  who  think  to  juggle 
with  him  as  with  their  fellow-creatures,  who  are  liable  to  ignorance 
and  miftakes,  and  therefore  can  be  cafily  impofed  upon. 


FABLE       XL  VII. 

The     Unskilful     HARPER. 

A  CERTAIN  Harper  playing,  as  he  ufually 
"^^  did,  upon  his  harp  in  a  large  hall,  which 
made  a  mighty  found  and  echo,  fancied  himfelf 
to  be  no  mean  arlift.  Puffed  up  with  this  vain 
conceit^  he  muft  needs  be  one  of  the  mufic  in  the 
play-houfe  ;  where  having  appeared,  he  began  to 
play;  but  fo  harfh  and  unpleafant  was  his  mufic, 
that  he  was  hilled  out  of  the  houfe. 

The     moral. 

This  Fable  fliews,  that  many,  who  think  them- 
felves to  be  no  fmall  perfons,  are,  upon  trial,  found 
to  be  very  weak  and  ignorant. 

The      remark. 

The  world  abounds  with  more  pretenders  to  learning,  than  truly 
learned.  How  many  do  vye  fee  daily,  who  having  for  fome  lime 
ranged  about  the  ftreets  with  a  Mountebank,  and  learned  a  little  of 
his  quacking,  fet  up  for  able  Phyficians,  and  give  out  (with  a 
great  ftock  of  impudence)  that  they  can  cure  all  difcafes,  when 
they  really  know  nothing  of  the  matter  ?  I  have  known  a  fellow, 
who  having  ferved  his  apprenticefhip  to  a  Gipfy,  immediately  fet 
up  for  a  great   Fortune-teller  and  Aftrologer,  when  he  knew  no 

more 


FAB  L-E  S    OF    ^  S  O  P.         5; 

more  of  it  than  Serjeant  Kite  in  the  play.  And  To  it  is  in  all 
other  fciences  and  trades.  There  can  be  no  greater  fign  offolln 
than  for  any  oite  to  be  wife  in  his  own  conceit ;  and  thev  that  are 
thus  fond  of  the;r  filiy  performance,  feldoni  come  better  off  than 
this  un&i  lul  Harpc-r,  who  thought  that  he  could  as  fufficiently 
pieale  the  learned  by  his  mufic,  as  he  pleafed  himielf. 

FABLE      XLVill. 

THIEVES    BREAKING    INTO    A    HOUSE. 

As  a  gang  of  Thieves  were  bufy  breaking  in- 
to a  houfe,  a  MaP  iff  that  lay  within  fch  a- 
barking.  One  of  the  Thieves  fpoke  to  hioi 
fair,  and  offered  him  a  piece  of  bread  to  flop  his 
mouth;  to  whom  the  Dog  anfwcred,  I  fmell  your 
wicked  defign.  Do  you  take  me  to  be  fuch  a 
fool  as  to  be  bribed,  and  betray  my  mafter  ?  You 
offer  me  a  piece  of  bread,  but  I  fcorn  your  offers 
For  (hould  I  take  it,  you  would  rifle  the  houfe, 
and  get  off  while  I  am  eating. 

The      moral. 

This  Fable  fliews,  that  neither  fair  promifes, 
nor  prefents,  (hould  tempt  any  one  to  betray  hi» 
truU,  ^  ^ 

The      remark. 

There  are  a  great  many  fervants  not  half  fo  true  to  their  nailers 
as  this  Dog  was  to  his ;  for  a  loaf  of  bread  was  as  great  a  ten^.ptaticn 
'lini'  /\''  ^'^S  of  money  to  a  man.  Yet  very  few  are  proof 
l^iic  truftees,  for  the  greater  the  tru.l  i.,  the  greater  the  treachery. 

H  FABLE 


58        FABLES    of     ^  S  O  P.. 

FABLE       XLIX. 
The     dog     and     the     WOLF; 

A  DOG  and  a  Wolf  met  accidently  together 
upon  the  highway  :  The  Wolf  told  the 
Dog,  that  he  was  glad  to  fee  him,  and 
wanted  to  know  how  it  came  to  pafs  that  he 
looked  fo  fat  and  jolly  ?  What  !  fays  the  Dog,  I 
keep  my  mafler's  houfe  from,  thieves,  and  I  have 
very  good  meat,  drink  and  lodging  for  my  pains. 
1  wifti,  fays  the  Wolf,  I  were  as  well  provided  for. 
Truly,  fays  the  Dog,  if  you'll  go  along  with  me, 
ril  fpeak  to  my  mafter  in  your  favour,  and  I  doubt 
not  but  you'll  fare  as  well,  if  you'll  be  as  good  a 
fervant  as  I  am.  The  Wolf  vfas  very  well  pleafed, 
promifing  fairly  :  And  away  they  trot  together, 
and  w^ere  very  pleafant  company  on  the  way.  At 
length,  as  they  came  nigh  the  houfe,  the  Wolf 
fpied  a  bare  place  about  the  Dog's  neck,  where 
the  hair  was  v^orrk  cfF:  Brother,  fays  he,  How 
comes  this,  I  pray  thee  ?  Oh  !  thai's  nothing, 
fays  the  Dog,  but  the  fretting  of  my  collar  a  little. 
Nay,  fays  the  Wolf,  if  there  be  a  collar  in  the 
cafe,  I  know  better  things  than  to  fell  my  libeity 
for  a  cruft. 

The      moral. 

This  Fable  (hews,  how  valuable  a  thing  liberty 
is,  and  that  all  other  things  without  it  can  give 
no  comfort. 

The 


FABLES    OF     iESOP, 


The      remark. 


5^ 


All  creatures  have  a  define  after  liberty,  which  they  will  not  ex- 
change tor  any  thing  elfe.  The  Wolf  (you  fee  here  in  this  fable) 
was  well  enourijh  plcafed  with  the  good  plight  the  Do?  was  in  ;  he 
thought  it  a  good  thing  to  have  me^t,  drink,  and  lodging,  a:  his 
conmand  ;  but  had  no  fancy  at  all  for  his  collar  :  And  truly  he 
that  felJs  freedom  for  the  cramming  of  his  gut,  makes  at  beft  but  a 
bad  bargain  ;  for  though  fuch  a  one  looketh  weil  in  the  eyes  of  the 
filly  and  if;norant  people,  who  have  no  furiher  view  than  fine 
cloaths,  plenty  of  provifion?,  and  money  ;  yet  he  will  appear  but 
mean  and  fervile  to  fuch  as  confider  him  with  a  more  confidering 
fye,  as  the  Wolf  did  the  Doer's  neck. 


FABLE       L. 

A     MAN     BIT     BY     A     DOG. 

ON  E  that  was  bitten  by  a  Dog,  was  adviTed 
(as  the  beft  remedy  in  the  world)  to  dip  a 
piece  of  bread  in  the  blood  of  the  wcund, 
and  give  the  Dog  to  eat.  Pray  hold  there,  lays 
the  man  ;  I  have  no  mind  to  draw  all  the  Dogs  ia 
the  town  upon  me;  for  that  will  certainly  be  the 
end  on't,  when  they  (hall  find  themfqives  reward* 
ed  inftead  of  puniihed. 

The      moral. 

Good   nature   is  a  great  misfortune,  when  it  is 
not  managed  with  prudence. 

The     R  E  M  a  R  K.^ 

Wicked  and  ill-natured  men  can  never  be  obliged  by  kindne/Tes, 
which  ofteatimes  make  them  more  infolent ;  and  it  is  a  great 
temptation  to  go  en  in  their  courfe,  when   they  fare  the  better  for 

evil 


6o        FABLES    op     ^ESOP. 

evil  doing.  Cbriftian  cbarity,  'tis  true,  bids  us  return  good  for 
evil  ;  but  it  does  not  oblige  us  to  reward  where  we  fhould  punifli. 
This  way  of  proceeding  is  dangerous  in  public,  as  well  as  in  pri- 
vate affairs  ;  for  bad  men,  when  thty  find  themfelves  treated  with 
too  much  renderncfs,  are  thereby  encouraged  to  be  worfe  and 
worfe.  Quarrelf ''ne  men,  as  well  as  quarrelfome  cu:s,  arc  worfe 
for  fair  ufage.  We  have  many  examples  of  this  nature  at  home 
and  abroad.  How  mai.y  kingdoms,  as  well  as  private  families, 
have  not  only  been  in  great  danger,  but  brought  to  utter  ruin,  by 
bold,  infolent,  and  defic;oing  villains,  when  their  fuperiors  were 
but  too  good  natured,  and  thought  to  reclaim  them  by  gentle  and 
kindly  means,  which  is  the  wrong  way  of  managing  fuch  obftinate 
and  perverfe  tempers. 

FABLE      LI. 
A    SOW     AND     A     DOG. 

AS  O  W  and  a  Dog  fell  a  fcoldlng,  and  the 
Sow,  in  a  great  wrath,  fwore  by  Venus^ 
that  ihe  would  tear  him  to  pieces  if  he 
did  not  hold  his  peace  :  Ah  !  fays  the  Dog,  you 
do  well  to  fwear  by  Venus  indeed,  who  cannot 
abide  any  creature  about  her  that  eais  Swine's 
flc(h.  You  fool,  fays  the  Sow,  do  not  you  know 
this  is  a  great  token  of  her  lovte  to  me,  not  to  en- 
dure any  thing  that  hurts  me  ?  But  for  Dog'u 
flefli,  it  is  good  for  nothing,  either  dead  or  alive. 

The       moral. 

This  Fable  (liews  us,  how  prudent  it  is,  when 
a  quarrel  or  difpute  arifcth,  to  break  it  off  with 


The 


F  A  B  L  E  S    OF     iE  S  O  P.         6t 


The       remark. 

'Tia  a  common  thing  for  men  to  boaft  and  value  themrelves 
upon  their  inter2rt  and  familiarity  with  great  men,  whom,  it  may 
be,  they  i  ever  fpoke  to.  Others,  upon  Ilender  acquaintance,  in» 
truJe  {o  much  into  the  company  of  their  betters,  that  ihey  become 
both  uneafv  and  impertinent.  Even  when  they  think  themfelres 
favourites,  cannot  but  expofe  them  to  the  fcorn  of  fuch  as  know 
how  matters  ftand  wifh  them;  as  the  Sow  here  in  the  Fahle  ap* 
pec'i-.  to  Venus,  as  her  putronefs,  before  the  Dog,  when  fiie  might 
eafily  have  forefe'^n,  that  i.ie  Dog  could  not  n.ifs  of  reproaching 
her  as  a  liar.  However,  when  people  have  overiliot  themfglves, 
the  bell  way  is  to  turn  oft  the  fcandal  with  ajeit. 


FABLE      LII. 
A     STAG     AND     LION. 


A 


STAG  that  was  clofely  purfued  by  the 
huntlman,  fled  for  fafety  into  a  den  where  a 
Lion  chanced  to  be,  and  before  he  was 
aware,  the  Lion  immediately  got  hold  of  him  j 
and  as  he  wis  expiring  under  his  paws,  Miierable 
creature  that  J  am,  lays  he,  endeavouring  to  cfcape 
the  hands  of  men,  1  have  unluckily  run  into  the 
paws  oi  the  fierctft  of  hearts. 

The      moral. 

This  Fable  fliews,  that  many,  while  they  think 
to  get  rid  of  fmall  danger,  run  thenifeves  head- 
long into  greater  mifchief. 


The 


62        FABLES     OF     ^SOP; 


The       remark. 

'  Men  in  this  world  are  threatened  with  dangers  on  all  hands, 
feme  of  which  tkey  cannot  eafily  avoid.  But  when  men  are  brought 
totnis  psfs  that  they  know  not  lo  what  hand  to  tarn  them,  they 
fliould  follow  the  advice  ot  the  proverb.  Of  two  evils,  the  lefler  is 
lobe  chofen.  How  unaecountable  is  the  conduft  of  fome,  who, 
endeavouring  to  avoid  preffing  difficulties,  fly  for  refuge  to  thieves 
and  murderers,  and  fo,  by  engaging  in  their  wicked  ways,  bring 
themfelves  unto  a  Ihameful  end.  The  proverb  holds  good  here, 
viz.  That  men  fhould  always  look  before  they  leap  ;  for  they  that 
aft  without  confiderarion,  muft  reeds  repent  them  of  their  ralh 
engagements,  whereby  they  often  ruin  not  only  therafelves,  buc 
ahb  their  whole  family,  as  well  in  their  eftates,  as  their  reputation. 


FABLE       LIII. 

The    pigeon    anp    WATERPOT. 

A  PIG  EON,  that  was  extremely  thirfty,  found 
a  Pitcher  with  a  little  water  in  it,  but  it  lay 
fo  low,  that  he  could  not  come  at  it :  He 
tried  firft  to  break  the  Pot,  but  it  was  too  ftrong 
for  him  -,  he  tried  then  to  overturn  it,  but  it  was 
too  heavy  for  him,  At  laft  he  bethought  himfelf 
cf  a  device  that  did  his  bufinefs,  which  was  this  : 
He  went  and  brought  little  pebbles,  and  dropt 
them  in  the  water,  and  fo  raifed  it  till  he  had  it 
within  his  reach. 

The       moral. 

What  we  cannot  compafs  by  f€>rce,  we  may  by 
art  and  invention. 

The 


FABLES     OF     iE  S  O  P.        63 


The      remark. 

Neceflity  is  .very  oft  the  mother  of  invention  ;  anJ  we  find  that 
Tome  when  they  are  put  to  their  wit's  end,  have  p/eiently  fallea 
upon  a  (hift,  which  otherwife  would  nev?r  entered  into  their  heads. 
We  commonly  h^»  That  wiles  help  we^k  fo.lks  ;  as  we  fee  in  ihu 
Fable,  that  the  7iger)n  came  nearer  to  his  purpofe  by  his  cunning 
<lsvice,  than  by  his  force  and  ftrengtli,  wiiich  before  he  had  fpeac 
in  vain. 


FABLE       LIV. 
THIEVES     AND     A     COCK. 

A  BAND  of  Thieves  broke  into  a  houfe  once, 
and  found  nothing  to  carry  away  but  o.iiS 
poor  'Cock  :  The  Cock  laid  as  much  for 
himfelf  as  a  Cock  could  (ay  ;  but  he  chiefly  fpokc 
of  the  fervices  which  he  did  by  calhng  people  up 
to  their  work,  when  it  was  tinie  to  rife,  Sirrah, 
fays  one  of  the  thieves,  you  had  better  (pjken  no- 
thing of  that,  for  your  waking  the  family  fpoils 
all  our  trade,  and  your  bawling  very  oft  makes  us 
run  the  hazard  of  hanging. 

The      moral. 

This   Fable   (hews,    that   many  a  man,  by  his 
foolifh  talk,  is  the  occaiion  of  his  own  rujn. 

The       R  E  M  a  R  K. 

The  government  of  the  tongue  is  a  notable  thing  ;  and  it  is  2 
great  fign  of  a  prudent  and  fobfir  man,  not  to  let  any  thing  drop 
from  his  mouth  which  may  be  made  ufe  of  againft  himlelf ;  for 
h  has   oltea   happened,  that  one  fooliHi  wcrd   has  fpoiied  a  good 

caufe. 


64        E  A  B  L  E  S     o  F    ^  S  O  P. 

caufe.  Had  th*  filly  Code  been  Co  wife  as  keep  his  own  counfel, 
the  Thieves  would  hardly  have  thought  it  worth  their  while  to 
carry  him  off.  Seldom  comes  any  good  oF  too  mnch  prating. 
Though  good  men  are  confcious  to  themfelves,  that  they  difcharge 
their  duty  with  honeily  and  care  towards  their  neighbours  ;  yet 
they  ought  well  to  know  in  what  company  they  are,  before  they 
prefume  to  let  tiieir  virtues  be  known  ;  becaufe  virtue  is  always 
defpifed  by  the  wicked,  and  they  that  delight  in  darknefs,  and 
love  not  that  their  ailions  Ihould  come  to  light,  hate  thofe  whofe 
deeds  are  contrary  to  their  own. 


F  A  B  L  E       LV. 

The     shepherd     and     FOX* 

AS  a  Shepherd  was  one  day  playing  on  his 
pipe,  up  comes  the  Fox,  charmed  with  his 
mufic,  and  t:>Jd  him  what  great  defire  he  had 
to  become  one  of  his  family,  that  he  might  have 
the  pleaiure  always  of  hearing  his  Iwect  pipe. 
Verily  friend  Reynard,  fays  the  Shepherd,  you 
Inall  be  very  welcome  into  my  family,  providing 
thac  you  leave  your  teeth   and'  naiis  behind  you. 

The      moral. 

There  is  no  trufting  of  fair  words  from  a  known 
and  profefied  enemy,  without  the  betlfecuriiy  that 
can   be  had. 

The      R  E  M  a  R  K. 

One  can  never  be  too  \wa.Ty  who  to^truft.  It  is  the  intereft  of  all 
men  to  know  well  thofe  whom  they  enter  into  iriendfhip  with  ; 
for  there  arc  fome  men,  let  them  fpeak  never  fo  h'lr,  that  are  knaves 
at  the  bottom  ;  and  there  are  fome  (harpers  in  the  world,  that  men 
muft  ftand  upon  their  guard  for  fear  of  being  tricked. 

FABLE 


F  A  B  L  E  S    o  F^    ^  S  O  p.         6$ 

FABLE      LVI.  "^ . 

The     cockles     roasted* 

AS   a  country   boy  was    roafting  Cockles,  he 
heard   them  hifs  with  the  great  heat^f  the 
fire:   What  filly  wretches  are   ye,  la^s  he, 
thus  to  fing,  while  your   houfe  is    burning   about 
your  ears  ? 

The      moral. 

This  Fable  (hews,  that  every  thing  done  out  of 
feafon,  looks  ridiculous. 

The      R  E  M  a  R  K.^ 

Many  a  good  advice  has  been  loft  for  not  timing  it  right ;  and 
many  have  been  thought  tedious  and  impertinent,  who^  had  they 
taken  a  fit  opportunity,  would  have  been  looked  upon  as  wife  and 
prudent  counfellors,  Solomon  Tays  very  wifely,  That  there  is  z 
time  to  laugh,  and  a  time  to  mourn  ;  fo  that  people  fhould  fuie 
their  behaviour  with  the  prefentoccafion. 

FABLE       LVII. 

The     sick    KITE. 

WHEN  the  Kite  lay  Cck  and  like  to  die,  he 
fends  to  his  mother  and  defircs  her  to  pray 
to  the  gods  for   his  recovery.     Alas,    my 
child,  fays   the  mother,  how  can  you  expeft  tbaC 
they  (hould   fend  you  any  relief,  feeing  you  have 
robbed  their  altars  fo  often  ? 

I  Tub 


66        FABLES     of    iESOP. 


Th  E      M  O  R  A  L. 

We  ought  to  have  a  great  reverence  for  God, 
and  every  thing  that  belongs  to  his  wor/hip,  if  wc 
expedt  that  he  fliould  hear  us  when  we  call  upon 
him.^Mk 

;      The      remark. 

This  Fable  fhews  us,  that  nothing  but  a  good  and  truly  Chriilian 
life  can  make  death  eafy  to  us.  Can  we  expcft  that  God  fhould 
hear  us  on  our  death-bed,  when  in  all  our  life  we  are  at  no  pains 
to  pleafe  him,  or  hearken  to  his  precepts  ?  This  fhews  us  alio  the 
folly  and  great  madnefs  of  fuch  as  truft  to  a  death-bed  repentance  : 
When  they  have  lived  a  wicked  life,  and  can  ferve  the  devil  no 
longer,  can  it  be  fappofed,  that  fuch  a  Ihort  time  will  be  enough 
for  the  great  work  of  reconciling  ourfelves  to  God  ?  The  belt  way 
to  fecure  God's  favour  in  the  time  of  adverfity,  is  to  be  mindful  of 
him  in  our  profperity.  The  preacher's  advice,  who  defires  us  to  re- 
member our  Creator  in  the  days  of  our  youth,  is  now  of  little  weight 
with  thofe  that  from  their  infancy  think  of  nothing  but  roguery 
and  rapine ;  who,  to  fatisfy  their  boundlefs  luft,  fpare  nothing 
either  facred  or  profane.  Little  do  fuch  people  think,  that  they 
mull  one  day  anfwer  for  all  their  violences  that  at  prefent  they  glory 
in. 


FABLE      LVIIL 

The     shepherd    and   his   FLOCK. 

A  S  a  certain  Countryman  was  feeding  his  Sheep 
-^^  in  a  fine  day,  by  the  Tea  fide;  and  feeing  the 
fea  fo  calm  and  fmooth,  he  thought  to  fct  up  for  a 
merchant,  and  venture  fomething.  Away  he  goes 
in  all  hafte,  fells  fome  of  his  flieep,  buys  a  bargain 
of  figs,  and  to  fea  he  goes.  It  happened  that  there 
arofe  fuch  a  great  temped,   that  the  feamen  were 

fain 


FABLES     OF     iESOP.         6/ 

fain  to  caft  their  loading  x)ver  board,  to  fave  their 
own  lives.  So  our  new  merchant  came  home 
very  foon,  and  betook  himfelf  to  his  old  trade 
cgain.  If  happened,  as  he  was  feeding  his  (beep 
upon  the  fame  coall,  that  there  was  fuch  a  fine 
day,  and  cahn  fea,  as  had  tempted  him  before. 
Yes,  fays  he  to  the  fea,  you  think  to  flatter  me 
once  more,  but  I  am  not  fuch  a  fool  as  to  be  fo 
gulled  out  of  the  rell  of  my  fheep. 

The      xM  O  R  a  L. 

Experience  teaches  fools,  as  we  fay  in  the  pro- 
verb, to  be  wife  3  and  if  that  do  it  not,  nothing 
wilK 

/ 
The      remark. 

How  happy  may  many  perfons  be  in  all  eftates,  if  they  can  but 
fuit  their  mind  to  their  condition  !  A  Shepherd  may  be  as  eafy  in 
a  cottage  as  a  Prince  in  a  palace.  But  every  man  living  has  his 
weak  *(ide  ;  and  we  feldom  fee  people  fo  eafy,  but  that  they  are 
difcontented  about  fomething,  and  fancy  they  may  be  better  in 
another  ftation,  even  following  feme  trade  or  bufinefs  that  they 
don't,  perhaps,  underlVand  ;  and  fo  when  they  meet  wich  difappoint- 
ments,  it  fhews  them  how  well  they  were  at  firlt,  if  they  wc.uld 
have  kept  fo.  The  reafonof  this  refilefs  temper  is,  becaufe  people 
do  not  look  upon  the  ftation  they  are  in,  as  that  wherein  God  is  well 
pleafed  to  place  them  ;  which  makes  them  hanker  and  greedily 
purfue  after  fomething  elfe,  without  confidering  whether  thty  can 
ferve  God  in  that  condition,  better  than  in  that  Hate  where  prcTvi- 
deace  has  been  pleafed  to  call  ihem. 


FABLE 


I 


6S        FABLES    of    ^SOP. 

FABLE       LIX. 

The     wolf     and     CRANE. 

THERE  was  a  Wolf  that  had  got  a  bone  in 
his  throat,  and  being  like  to  be  choaked,  he 
intreated  all  the  beafts  to  help  bim  ;  but 
when  none  came  to  his  affiftance,  he  promifed  a 
confiderable  reward  to  the  Crane,  if  (he  would  put 
her  long  bill  down  his  throat,  and  draw  out  the 
bone.  He  prevails  with  the  Crane,  and  when  (he 
had  done  him  that  good  office,  claimed  his  pro- 
mife.  Why  now,  impudence,  fays  the  Wolf, 
when  you  put  your  he^  into  my  mouth,  and  then 
brought  it  out  again  fair  and  found,  i  think  that's 
a  reward  enough  j  Could  not  I  hav«  bit  off  your 
head  ?  So  I  think  you  owe  mie  your  life^  and  that's 

a  very  good  rccompence.  /*'. '\/*'» 

*   »*•*'.  ^- ' 

The      moral.       """:.yi:" 

'Tis  loft  kindnefs  that's  done  to  an  ungrateful 
perfon. 

The      remark. 

Tho'  it  be  commonly  fe;d,  that  one  good  turn  requires  another; 
it  is  different  when  people  have  to  do  with  men  who  are  no  better 
than  beafts  ;  they  are  no  way  grateful  or  thankful  to  their  prcfervers. 
Nay  how  many  are  worfe  than  the  Wolf,  who  had  the  Crane's 
head  at  his  mercy,  yet  did  not  chop  it  off?  which  was  a  kiridnefs 
(o  far,  that  he  would  not  take  away  the  life  of  that  creature  who 
preferved  his  own.  But  we  have  nany  inftances  of  thofe  who  have 
be;;n  their  ruin  who  raifed  them  from  the  dunghill.  Nay,  too 
m^ny  do  we  fee,  who  let  their  parents  Harve,  who  fpent  all  their 

fubilance 


FABLES     OF    M  S  O  P/'       69 

fubftance  to  put  them  in  a  way  of  living.  But  to  He  fare,  ven- 
geance will  overtake  fuch.wretches,  whqfe  crueU/  goes  beyond  that 
of  the  moll  cruel  beafts.  • 


FABLE       LX. 

The    husbandman  and  SERPENT. 

A  COUNTRYMAN  happen:-:],  in  a  hard  win- 
ter, to  eipy  a  icrpent  under  a  hedge,  that 
Was  half  I'rozen  to  death  :  The  good- Matured 
man  took  it  up,  and  kept  it  in  hh  byfom  till 
warmth  brought  it  to  hfc  again  ;  and  fo  (oon  as  it 
was  in  a  condition  to  do  any  thing,  it  bit  the  very 
man  that  (avcd  the  hfe  on't.  Ah  I  tiicu  ungrate- 
ful wretch,  fays  he,  can  thy  ill-nature  be  fatijficd 
with  nothing  lefs  than  the  ruin  of  thy  preferver  ? 

The      mora  L. 

'Tis  natural  for  fome  men,  hke  the  Serpcnf,  to 
do  more  mifchief,  the  more  kindntls  one  do^js 
them. 

The      re  M  A  R  K. 

'Tis  an  excellent  faying  of  the  prophet,  **  Can  any  man  take  fire 
**  in  his  bofom,  and  not  be  burned  ?"  So  he  that  takes  an  uoprate-. 
ful  man  into  his  bofom,  maft  exped  to  be  betrayed.  L'utit  is  no 
^new  thing  with  good-natured  men  to  meet  with  urgrstefu'l  returns  : 
Therefore  friendlhip  and  kindnefs  ought  to  be  weli  wei^ied  and 
confidered  before  they  are  befiowcd.  Por  'tis  very  true,  asthe  rro- 
verb  fays.  Save  a  thief  from  the  gallows,  aiid  he  will  cut  your 
throat.  This  Fable  alfo  flrikes  at  iuch  as  indulge  thdr  bafc  vices  ; 
thofe  are  fo  msny  Snakes,  who  will  certaimy  deftroy  botli  ic^l  and 
body  at  laft  ;  if  they  be  kept  in  the  fervice  of  fin,  they  will  meet 
J^ith  no  better  reward  than  the  Country  mac  did  from  the  Serpen:, 

FABLE 


70         FABLES     of     M  S  O  F. 


FABLE      LXI. 

A       LION       GROWN       OLD. 

A  LION,  who  in  his  younger  days  had  got  a 
great  rrany  enemies  by  his  fiercenefs  and 
cr-jeiry,  came  at  laft  to  be^  reduced,  in  his  old  age, 
to  a  great  deal  of  mifery  and  contempt  j  (o  that 
nioft  of  the  beafts  out  ot  revenge,  came  and  fell 
upon  him.  Amongll  the  reft  the  Ais  comes  and 
kicks  him  with  her  f<?ot  ;  then  the  Lion  groaning, 
fair!,  I  am  a  miferable  creature  indeed  !  And,  I 
confcfs,  I  deTerve  no  kind  ufage  from  fome  to 
whom  I  have  bsen  no  friend  ;  but  that  others 
ihou'd  ferve  me  fo,  to  whom  I  have  been  very 
kind,  I  think  it  is  very  hard  :  But  there  is  nothing 
e;oes  io  near  my  heart  as  to  be  kicked  by  the  heel 
ol  an  Afs. 

The     MORAL- 

No  body  ought  to  be  haughty  in  his  profperity  3 
for  if  fortune  dues  but  frown  upon  him,  he  ioon 
becomes  contemptible. 

The      remark. 

It  is  the  intereft  of  all  perfons  to  fccure  for  themfelves  fomething 
ao-ainft  the  time  of  need.  Our  Saviour  commends  the  condu6l  of 
the  unjuit  lieward,  who  made  friends  to  hinifelf,  who  ihould  receive 
him  into  their  houfes,  as  foon  as  he  was  turned  off;  and  we  are 
defired,  in  the  conclufion  of  that  parable,  to  make  ourfelves  friends 
with  the  mammon  of  unrighteoufnefs,  that  we  may  be  received  into 
everladirio-  habitations.  How  miferable  is  the  condition  of  fuch, 
who,  to  gratify  fome  bafe  vice,  fuch  as  pride,  malice,  or  for  the 
bafe   lucre  of  money,  lofe   foul  and  body,  and  reputation  !  Such 

leave 


FABLES     OF     ^  S  O  P.         71 

leave  this  world  unlamented,  and  unphied,  and  enter  on  the  next 
with  aconfcience  ftung  with  a  guilty  remembrance  of  their  wicked- 
nefs,  and  full  of  horror  at  the  profpe*^  of  divine  vengeance.  So- 
lomon gives  a  fair  warnirg  to  fuch,  in  the  book  of  Ecclefiartes, 
where  he  fays,  "  Pvcjoice,  O  young  man,  in  thy  youth,  and  let 
*'  thy  heart  cheer  thee  in  the  days  of  thy  youth,  and  walk  in  the 
/*  ways  of  thine  heart,  and  in  the  fight  of  thine  eyes  ;  bat  know 
**  thou  that  for  all  thefc  things,  God  will  bring  thee  unto  judg- 
'*  ment." 


FABLE       LXIL 

The     spaniel     and     ASS. 

A  GENTLJEMAN  had  got  a  pretty  Spaniel 
"^^  that  was  ftill  leaping  upon  hiii'i,  licking  his 
hands,  cheeks,  and  face,  and  playing  a  thou  land 
tricks,  wherewith  the  marter  was  pleafed.  There 
was  an  Ais  about  the  houfe,  whoieeing  this,  be- 
gan to  think  of  her  own  fad  fortune,  how  ihe 
muft  trudge  about  with  her  burden,  and  never  be 
at  reft,  yet  always  beat;  whilft  this  idle  puppy 
was  his  mafter's  favourite,  fed  with  the  beft,  and 
carefled  by  every  body.  The  A  Is  finding  him  fo 
well  treated,  muft  needs  go  the  fame  way  to  work 
to  curry  favour  with  her  mafter  :  So  the  firft  limt; 
fhe  faw  him,  (he  ran  towards  him,  leaped  upon 
him,  and  daubing  him  with  her  nafty  hoofs,  al- 
moft  beat  him  dovi^n  to  the  ground;  whereupon 
he  called  to  his  fervants,  and  fo  the  poor  Als  was 
foundly  cudgelled  for  her  fondnefs. 

The      moral. 

People  in  ail  ftations  ought  to  know  their  due 
diftance  ;  becaufe  too  much  fami'Harity  breeds  con- 
tempt. The 


72         FABLES    OF    iESOP. 


The      remark. 

Men  ought  to  obferve  order  and  decency  in  all  things ;  for  that 
may  become  one  man,  which  is  no  ways  proper  for  another  ;  and 
feme,  by  their  too  much  officioufnefs,  do  themfelves  no  kindnefs. 
They  are  looked  upon  as  fondlings,  who  feek  after  fomething  to 
themfelves,  and  (o  by  this  means  they  lofe  both  their  credit  and 
defign.  This  Fable  alfo  Ihiices  at  fuch  as  are  difcontented  with  the 
llation  wherein  God  is  pleafed  to  plac^  them  :  They  look  uport 
others  with  an  envious  eye,  whom  they  fuppofe  to  be  in  better  cir- 
cumftances  ;  So  while  they  attempt  to  raife  themfelves  by  indireft 
means,  they  go  out  of  that  road  which  Providence  has  allotted 
them ;  and  it  is  no  wonder  if  they  meet  with  a  fcourge  to  humble 
them. 


FABLE       LXIII. 
The     lion     and     MOUSE. 

ALIGN'  that  had  been  faint  and  weary  tra- 
velling in  a  hot  day,  lay  down  under  a 
fiiade,  and  fell  afleep,  but  was  foon  awak- 
ened by  a  parcel  of  mice  who  run  over  his  back, 
one  of  which  he  caught.  This  poor  prifoner 
pleads,  that  he  was  not  worthy  of  his  wrath  : 
'Tis  true,  fays  the  Lion,  it  is  not  worth  my  while 
to  meddle  with  you,  and  fo  let  him  go;  Some 
time  afterwards  it  happened,  that  this  fame  Lion 
was  caught  in  a  net,  and  fell  a  roaring  :  The 
Moufe  prefcntly  knows  the  voice,  runs  out,  and 
fell  to  work  upon  the  couplings  of  the  net,  gnaws 
the  thread  to  pieces,  and  in  gratitude  delivered  her 
prefcrver. 


The 


FABLES    OP     ^  S  O  P.         j^ 


The      M  O  R  a  Lr 

There  is  no  body  fo   inconfiderable,   but   feme 
time  or  other  there  may  be  occalion  for  him. 

The      remark. 

In  this  Fable  we  fee  the  generofity  of  the  Lion,  and  the  gratitude 
of  the  Moufe  ;  and  notwithltanding  tke  power  and  greatnefs  of  the 
«ne,  who  expedled  no  return,  (and  who  would  have  thought  that 
the  life  of  the  Lion  Ihould  lie  at  the  mercy  of  the  Moufe  r)  yet  the 
meannefs  of  the  other  did  not  hinder,  but  that  he  flood  in  great 
need  of  her  affiftance  ;  which  does  teach  us  not  to  defpife  the  mean- 
ell  of  creatures,  becaufe  they  may  be  of  ufe  to  us  ;  and  fo  we  ought 
never  willfully  to  difoblige  any  body  ;  for  if  we  did  by  others  as 
we  would  have  others  to  do  by  us,  this  is  the  beft  way  to  do  our* 
felves  and  others  a  kindnefs. 


FABLE      LXIV. 
The     frogs     desiring    a    KING. 

WHEN  the  Frogs  had  grown  wanton  with 
too  much  liberty,  they  petitioned  Jupiter 
foe  a  King  :  Jupiter  who  knew  the  vanity 
of  theirt^earts,  refufed  them  5  but  they  were  lo 
importunate,  that  at  laft  he  threw  down  a  log  for 
their  king,  which,  at  the  firft  daOi,  made  a  mighty 
ftir  in  the  lake,  and  frightened  them  fo,  that  all 
fculked  in  the  mud  :  This  fear  kept  them  in  awe 
for  fome  time,  till  one  of  the  Frogs  bolder  than 
the  reft,  put  up  his  head,  and  looked  about  him 
to  fee  how  matters  went  with  their  new  king  5 
and  finding  that  he  ftirred  not,  drew  near  by  little 

K  and 


74        FABLES    of    ^ESOP. 

and  little,  till  at  laft  he  perceived  ,what  it  was : 
Upon  this  he  calls  his  fellow- fubjeds,  and  dif- 
covers  the  whole  matter  to  them,  fo  that  nothing 
would  fefve  thcnn  but  they  muft  ride  a-top  of  him  ; 
infomuch,  that  the  fear  they  were  in  before,  is 
now  turned  into  infolence  and  contempt.  Jupiter 
is  intreated  a  fecond  time,  for  this  king  was  too 
tame,  and  they  delire  one  that  had  fome  courage ; 
fo  Jupiter  fent  them  a  ferpent,  which  moving 
ftoutly  up  and  down  the  fen,  left  them  neither 
liberty  nor  property,  but  devoured  all  the  Frogs 
that  came  in  his  way  s  The  Frogs  fend  once  more 
to  Jupiter,  complaining  of  the  king's  cruelty,  and 
defiring  they  may  have  another  ;  but  Jupiter  an- 
fwers  them,  That  they  who  petition  againft  a 
gracious  king,  muft  now  endure  one  who 'had  no 
mercy. 

T  H  E      M  O  R  A  L. 

They  that  will  not  be  contented  when  they  are 
well,  muft  be  patient  when  things  are  amifs  with 
them. 

The     remark. 

It  ufually  befals  the  common  people  as  it  did  with  the  Frogs, 
who,  if  they  have  a  king  a  little  more  mild,  they  find  fault  with 
him  that  he  is  flothful  and  idle,  and  wiih  that  they  may  once  have 
a  man  of  valour.  On  the  contrary,  if  at  any  time  they  have  a  king 
that  hath  mettle  in  him,  they  condemn  this  king's  cruelty,  and 
commend  the  clemency  of  the  former.  'Tis  the  temper  of  a  great 
many  to  be  weary  of  things  prefent ;  and  yet  the  oftsner  they 
change,  and  the  farther  they  go,  they  fare  flill  the  worfe.  Wifely 
doth  Solomon  enjoin  us,  to  fear  God  and  honour  the  king,  and  not 
to  meddle  withfuch  as  are  given  to  change, 

FABLE 


FABLES    OF     .E  S  0.  P. 


7S 


FABLE       LXV. 

The  kite,    HAWK,  an©  PIGEONS. 

THE  Pigeons  once  made  war  with  a  Kite,  and 
that  they  might  be  able  to  beat  him,  made 
choice  of  the  Hawk  for  their  King.  Bat 
as  foon  as  he  got  the  government,  he  aded  more 
like  a  tyrant  than  a  King,  making  a  greater  havock 
among  them  than  the  Kite  had  done.  The  Pi- 
geons at  laft  repented  of  their  choice,  faying,  We 
had  done  better  to  have  bore  with  the  Kite's 
fevcrity,  than  thus  to  fuffer  the  tyranny  of  the 
Hawk. 

The      moral. 

'Tis  good  to  follow  St.  Paul's  advice,  who  learns 
us  in  every  condition  therewith  to  be  contented. 

The      remark. 

'Tis  feldom  that  people  of  a  fickle  temper  efcape  inconveniencies, 
which  they  are  conftantly  expofed  to  by  the  defigns  of  crafty  and 
treacherous  men,  who,  under  pretence  of  friendfliip,  prove  much 
more  hurtful  than  an  avowed  enemy.  David  complains,  how  he 
that  was  a  familiar  friend  had  lifted  up  his  heel  againll  him,  and 
this  was  a  forer  wound  to  him,  than  if  an  enemy  had  done  i:  ;  for, 
fays  he,  I  could  have  borne  with  it  the  better.  The  pleafures 
and  vanities  of  this  life  are  fuch  treacherous  frienc?s,  who  promife 
great  things  at  a  diftance ;  and  though  they  feem  Lo  be  fweet  ia 
the  mouth,  yet  they  prove  bitter  in  the  belly. 


FABLE 


76         FABLESoFiESOP. 


FABLE       LXVI. 

The     wolf     and     SOW. 

A  WOLF  came  to  a  Sow  juft  ready  to  lie 
down,  and  promifed  to  take  care  of  her  litter  : 
The  Sow  told  him,  fhe  did  not  want  his  help, 
and  the  greater  diftance  he  kept,  he  would  oblige 
the  more  ;  for  the  Wolf's  office,  fays  (he,  confifts 
not  in  being  nigh,  but  in  being  far  away. 

The      moral. 

Many  offer  their  fcrvice,  not  out  of  love  to  the 
perfon  they  would  feem  to  ferve,  but  out  of  felf- 
love. 

The      remark. 

Many  dangerous  fnares  are  laid  for  people  under  the  name  of 
kindneis,  and  good  office  ;  but  ill  men  are  not  to  be  believed  or 
trufted,  for  fome  enemies  appear  in  the  fhape  of  friends  ;  but  men 
fhould  Hand  upon  their  guard,  as  the  Sow  here  did,  who  had  more 
wit  than  to  be  enticed  by  the  Wolf.  Many  love  thek  neighbours, 
not  for  the  love  of  God,  but  for  the  love  of  themfelves ;  and  this 
]ove  lafts  no  longer  than  they  can  exped  fome  benefit  by  thera. 
There  is  nothing  more  hurtful  to  mankind  than  this  poifonous 
principle  of  felf-love  ;  it  deftroys  all  government:  For  while  men 
do  all  for  private  ends,  what  muft  become  of  the  public  ?  and  it 
overturns  all  religion,  which  ftridlly  enjoins,  **  Whatfoever  ye 
*"*  would  that  men  fhould  do  unto  you,  even  do  {o  unto  them,  for 
*'  this  is  the  law  and  the  prophets."  So  that  nothing  more  effec- 
tually ruins  men,  both  in  this  life  and  that  which  is  to  come,  than 
felf  love,  v/hich,  at  lafl,  proves  rather  to  be  felf-hatred.  Jt  is  the 
fpring  of  fin  and  vvickednefs ;  and  we  may  very  well  apply  unto 
It,  what  the  apofile  fays  of  the  love  of  money,  **  That  it  is  the 
•'  root  of  all  evil.'* 

FABLE 


FABLES     OF     iSSOP.         yy 

FABLE      LXVII. 

The     mountain     in     Labour. 

THERE  was  once  a  report  that  a  Mountain 
was  in  travail  :  All  the  people  expeded  iome 
dreadful  monfter  to  bs  brought  iorth,  at  laft  there 
comes  only  a  Moufc  ;  fo  that  the  people  were  like 
to  die  with  laughing. 

The      MORAL. 
There's  often  much  to  do  about  nothing. 

The      remark. 

This  Fable  ftrikes  at  great  braggers,  who  make  mighty  noife 
and  boafting  about  their  performances  j  and  yet,  when  they  are 
brought  upon  trial,  behold  they  can  do  noti.ing  at  all  ;  and  it  is 
no  wonder  if  fuch  vapouring  fellows  become  the  feoff  and  frame  of 
all  that  know  them  :  And  though  they  may  fcmetimes  impofe  upon 
the  mob,  yet  they  make  themfelves  ridiculous  to  all  men  of  fenfe. 
And  yet  how  extravagant  and  vain  are  the  attempts  of  fome  men  ? 
What  caftles  do  they  build  in  the  air  r  and  what  fine  things  do 
they  promife  to  themfelves  ?  though  all  end  like  the  Fable  a 
Mountain  brings  forth  a  Moufe.  Sich  vain  and  empty  fellows 
may  juftly  be  compared  to  a  cracker,  which  mounts  into  the  air 
with  a  mighty  noife  and  force,  to  the  great  wonder  of  the  behold- 
ers, but  of  a  fudden  it  burfts,  and  vaniiheth  ir:to  fmoke,  and  turns 
the  contempt  of  all  prefent.  'Tis  commonly  obfcrv#d,  that  fuch 
as  are  great  braggers,  are,  for  the  moft  part,  flow  performers,  and 
it  is  a  great  fign  of  folly  and  weaknefs,  to  keep  people  in  expedla- 
tion  of  great  matters,  when  wc  arc  confcious  to  ourfelves  that  we  are 
noways  in  a  capacity  to  put  them  in  pradlice. 


FABLE 


78        FABLES     of     iESOP. 

FABLE      LXVriL 

The     hares     and     FROGS. 

THE  Hares  were  ftrangely  frighted  at  a  whirl- 
wind that  had  happened  in  a  wood,  which 
made  a  terrible  noifc  among  the  trees  :  But 
after  their  fear  was  over,  feme  of  them  began  to 
be  mightily  diflatisfied  with  their  miferable  condi- 
tion. Why,  fays  one  of  them,  here  we  live  at  the 
mercy  ot  Men,  Dogs,  Eagles,  and  I  know  not  how 
many  beafts  that  prey  upon  us  at  pleafure;  we  are 
perpetually  in  danger  ;  fo  that  it  is  better  to  die 
once  for  all,  than  live  at  this  rate  in  a  continual 
fear,  which  is  worfe  than  death  itfelf.  All  were 
virell  pleafed  with  the  fancy,  and  a  refolution  was 
taken  one  and  all  to  drown  thcmfelves  ;  fo  away 
they  went  to  the  next  lake.  A  great  many  Frogs, 
who  were  lying  upon  the  banks,  hearing  the 
hurry  of  the  Hares,  leaped  for  fear  into  the  lake  : 
Nay  then,  my  mafters,  fays  one  of  the  Hares, 
pray  let  us  have  a  little  patience,  our  condition  is 
not,  1  find,  altogether  fo  bad  as  we  fancied  -,  for 
there  are  thofe  you  fee  that  are  as  much  afraid  of 
us,  as  we  are  of  others. 

The      moral. 

The  intent  of  this  Fable  is  to  (hew,  that  if  peo- 
ple did  well  confider  their  own  cafe,  there  is  not 
luch  caufe  of  repining  as  they  imagine. 

T  n  E 


FABLES    OF    iE  S  O  P.        79 


The     remark.' 

It  is  the  unhappinefs  of  the  greatefl:  part  of  mankind,  that  they 
always  look  to  perfons  above  themfelvcs,  which  makes  them  fo 
uneafy,  while  they  fee  fome  others  ia  a  more  fiourifhing  condition 
than  themfelves :  Whereas,  did  they  but  confider  how  it  is  witli 
many  of  their  neighbours,  they  would  find  it  their  duty  to  be  thank-, 
ful  that  it  is  no  worfe  with  them,  I  wi(h  I  had  this,  and  I  wifhl 
had  that,  is  the  common  faying  of  people  ;  but  did  we  compare 
curfelves  with  others,  and  fee  how  many  are  in  a  mifcrable  and 
wretched  condition  ;  fome  tormented  with  the  moft  torturing  pains 
and  difeafes,  and  others  blind  and  lame,  llarving  for  want  of  bread  ; 
they  would  be  very  thankful  to  God  for  what  they  are,  and  what 
they  have,  feeing  others  envy  their  happinefs  as  much  as  they  do 
that  of  others. 


FABLE      LXIX. 
The    Daw    and  borrowed  Feathers. 

AD  AW  that  would  fain  appear  finer  than  her 
companions,  decked  herfelf  with  Peacock's 
Feathers,  and  all  the  otber  gay  Feathers  that 
(he  could  find  ;  fo  (he  would  not  ftay  any  longer 
with  birds  of  her  kind,  but  muft  needs  go  among 
the  Peacocks,  and  other  fine  birds  :  But  as  foon 
as  they  difcovered  the  cheat,  they  fell  a  pulling  of 
her :  And  when  every  bird  had  taken  his  owa 
Feathers  away,  the  filly  Daw  was  ftript  to  the 
fkin,  and  nothing  left  to  cover  her  nakednefs. 

The      moral. 

When  pride  and  bc^ggary  meet,  people  are  fure 
to   make  themfelves  ridiculous. 

The 


So        FABLES    OF     M  S  O  K 


The      remark. 

Pride  and  ambition  has  been  the  ruin  of  many.  Lucifer  was 
turned  out  of  heaven  for  his  arrogance  :  And  we  have  all  the  fad 
experience,  how  fatal  this  was  to  our  firft  parents,  who  were  not 
Satisfied  with  the  ftate  wherein  God  had  placed  them,  but  they 
mult  attempt  fuch  things  which  were  their  ruin  :  And  when  their 
eyesAvere  opened,  and  they  found  themfclvcs  as  naked  as  the  Daw 
ftript  of  her  Feathers,  then  they  came  to  underftand  and  repent 
their  folly.  And  how  many  of  their  pofterity  follow  their  example  ? 
They  ftill  believe  Satan's  amufements,  until  they  arc  fummoned 
by  death.  Theti  it  is  that  their  eyes  are  opened,  and  find,  that  he 
that  was  a  liar  fr«^i  the  beginning,  and  will  be  fo  to  the  end,  has  . 
cheated  them. 

This  Fable  fhews  us,  moreover,  the  great  miftake  of  fuch  as 
place  their  happinefs  upon  any  thing  that  may  be  taken  away. 
What  are  all  the  riches  and  honours  of  this  world  but  borrowed 
Feathers.  When  death  comes,  we  muft  be  ftripped  of  them,  and 
left  naked,  according  to  the  faying  of  Job,  "  Naked  camel  out  of 
*-'  my  mother^s  womb,  and  naked  (hall  I  return."  This  Fable  ftrikes 
at  fuch  as  make  a  mighty  fhow,  and  have  a  gay  outfide  at  the  ex- 
pence  of  others,  until  people  begin  to  difcover  how  matters  are 
with  them,  and  every  one  takes  away  his  own ;  and  fo  they  are  left 
as  naked  as  the  Daw. 


FABLE      LXX. 
The     frog     and     OX. 

A  HUGE  Ox  was  grazing  in  a  meadow,  and 
a  Frog  feeing  him,  was  defirous  to  match 
him  in  bulk,  and  fo  fell  a  ftretching  herfelf. 
She  called  out  to  her  little  ones  to  take  notice 
whether  fhe  was  not  as  b\  as  the  Ox.  Why, 
mother,  fays  they,  you  are  nothing  to  the  Ox, 
She  then  ftrained  again,  but  it  would  not  do:  But 
file  went  ftill  on  and  on,  till  at  laft  fixe  burft. 

Ths 


»•. 


F4B^;ES     OF     jESOP.     ^8i 


v\  H 


vO- 


The       moral. 


Pride  and   envy  will  at  laft  bring  a  man  Co  de-" 
ftrudtion. 

The       remark.. 

This  Fable  is  a  fevere  lafli  upon  thofe  who  fancy  themfelves  to 
be  greater  than  really  they  are,  and  {o  fet  up  to  live  above  what 
they  can  afford  :  They  ftrive  to  imitate  perfons  of  the  higheft  fta- 
tion  and  quality,  who  have  twenty  times  their  eflates,  till  at  laft 
they  bring  themfelves  to  poverty.  What  a  great  unhappinefs  is  it 
to  fuch  whofe  affections  and  thoughts  run  after  nothing  but  high 
places  ?  Into  how  many  inconveniencies  do  they  bring  themfelves, 
till  at  laft  they  burll  ?  How  contrary  is  the  humour  (which  prevails 
too  much  in  our  day*)  to  that  poverty  and  humblenefs  of  fpirit 
which  our  Saviour  lays  down  as  the  foundation  of  the  Chriftiaa 
religion  ?  For  he  begins  the  fermon  on  the  mount  with  thefe 
words  :  **  BlelTed  are  the  poor  in  fpirit,  for  theirs  is  the  kingdom 
•*  of  heaven."  And  truly  without  fuch  a  difpofition  as  this,  there 
can  be  no  real  happinefs  ;  for  whatever  condition  the  humble  per- 
fon  is  in,  he  is  content,  and  prefers  fobriety  and  $ctir«dnefs  to  the 
luxury  of  courts  and  palaces. 


FABLE      LXXI. 

m 

A       STAG       DRINKING. 

AS  a  Stag  was  drinking  in  a  clear  fountain,  he 
faw  his  image  in  the  water ;  fo  fell  to  admire 
his  fine  large  and  branching  horns,  but  quite 
defpifed  his  legs,  thinking  they  were  but  Imall 
pitiful  flianks.  Juft  as  he  was  upon  this  thought, 
he  difcovered  a  pack  of  dogs  coming  full  cry  to- 
wards him  :  Away  he  fcouis  acrofs  the  fields,  and 
gets  inio  a  v/ood  j  but  prcffing  through  a  thicket, 
the  bulhes  held  him  by  the  horns  till    the  hounds . 

L  came 


Sz  ,     FABLES     OF     ^SOP, 

came  up  to  him,  and  pulled  him  down  -,  ^nd  as  he 
was  dying  he  faid,  What  an  unhappy  fool  was  I, 
to  take  my  friends  for  my  enemies,  and  enemies 
for  my  friends  ?  I  trufted  to  my  head  that  has  be- 
trayed me,  and  I  found  fault  with  the  legs  that 
would  have  otherwife  carried  me  off. 

The       moral. 

Such  as  do  not  know  themfelves  right,  cannot 
chufc  but  pafs  a  wrong  judgment  upon  matters^ 
that  nearly  concern  them. 

The      remark. 

Many  are  ready  to  admire  that  which  they  ought  to  forfake  and 
abhor  ;  while,  on  the  other  hand,  they  defpife  and  trample  upon 
that  which  is  moftly  lo  be  valued  and  admired.  The' pomps  and 
vanities  of  this  wicked  world  is,  what  all  Chriftians  ought,  and 
are  bound  by  their  baptifm  to  deny  j  and  yet  nothing  appears  fo 
£ne  and  defirable  in  the  eyes  of  the  moft  part  of  mankind  as  thefe. 
Is  there  any  thing  fo  beautiful  and  lovely  as  virtue  ?  and  yet  how 
much  is  it  neglected  and  defpifed  !  The  reafon  why  men  are  guilty 
of  fuch  woful  millakes,  as  to  take  the  worfe  for  the  better,  and  the 
better  for  the  worfe,  is,  becaufe  they  do  not  know  themfclves,  nor 
the  end  for  which  they  came  into  the  world,  which  makes  them 
glory  in  that  which  is  rather  their  (hame,  and  which  if  not  prevent- 
ed, will  prove  to  be  their  deftruflion.  But  when  death  comes, 
they  will  find  the  difference,  and  fay,  as  the  Stag  in  the  Fable, 
What  fools  they  were  to  take  their  friends  for  their  enemies,  and 
enemies  for  their  friends  ? 

FABLE       LXXIL 
The    husbandman  and  the  wood. 

ACOUNTRY-fellow   that   had   got  the  iron- 
work  of  an  ax,   went  to  the  next  foreft  to 
beg  only  io  much  wood  as  would  make  an  handle 

to 


FABLES     OF     JE  S  O  P,     .  ^ 

to  it.  The  matter  feemed  (o  fm^ill,  that  it  was 
eafily  granted  :  Bat  when  the  trees  came  to  find 
that  the  whole  wood  was  to  be  cut  down  by  the 
help  of  this  handle  ;  There's  no  remedy,  lay  they, 
but  patience,  when  people  are  undone  by  their 
folly. 

The      moral. 

Nothing    goes    nearer  a  man  in  his  misfortune, 
than  to  be  undone  by  his  own  fault. 

The       remark. 

How  many  are  there  who  are  enemies  againft  themfelves ;  and 
what  a  trouble  is  it  for  a  man  to  fall  by  that  weapon  which  he  ha« 
put  in  the  hand  of  his  foe  ?  Daily  experience  dUcovers  how  many 
are  the  caufe  of  their  own  Geftru(f>ion.  And  though  foinetimes  a 
man  may  lofe  his  life  or  eftate  witliout  being  the  caufe  of  it,  yet  it 
is  impoflible  that  a  man  can  lofe  his  foul  without  bein^  alio-jether 
the  caufe  and  occafion  of  it :  Which  will  make  all  fuchlnexcufable 
in  the  day  of  judgment.  This  Fable  llrikes  alfo  at  fuch  who  are 
the  ruin  of  their  benefaftors  :  The  wooden  handle  cue  down  the 
wood  wherein  it  grew.  How  many  employ  that  life  and  Urength 
which  God  gives  them  to  fight  againll  himfelf?  So  that  in  all  ages 
people  may  be  julHy  charged  with  what  God  upbraids  the  Jews  : 
"  I  have  nouriQied  and  brought  up  people,  but  they  have  rebelled 
**  againft  me.'* 


FABLE      LXXIII. 
A     HORSE     AND     A     LION, 


A 


LION  longed    for  a    piece   ©f   good  Horfe- 
flefli,    but  not   knowing  how  to  come  by  it, 
by    reafon  of  his  age  and   want   of  ftrength, 
he  made  ufc  of  this   contrivance  :  He  comes  tp^ta 


84.      FABLES     OF     ^SOP. 

Horfe,  and  gave  out  himfelf  to  be  a  Farrier,  think- 
irg  to  amule  the  Horfc  with  a  long  ftory  of  his 
art  and  experience.  1  he  Horfe  finding  his  kna- 
V'.'ry,  dtfigned  to  be  ss  cunning  as  he  ;  thcre»orc 
pretending  to  have  lately  pricked  his  foot,  he  in- 
trcais  the  Phyiician  that  he  would  be  pleafed  to 
look  upon  it,  to  pull  out  the  thorn  and  givo  hiii> 
eale.  O,  fays  the  Lion,  do  but  hold  u:*  yiy:i^  ictg 
z  little,  and  1  will  cure  you  imnriediateiy.  as 

he  was  looking  to  it,,  the  Horfe  gave  him  a  u  ;hie 
blew  upon  the  forehead  with  his  heel,  which  iid 
him  flat,  and  fo  got  off.  When  the  Lion  tiad 
recovered  a  little.  Well,  fays  he,  1  am  rightly 
ferved  for  my  folly,  and  1  fee  the  Horfe  has  repaid 
knavery  with  knavery. 

The      moral. 

It  often  happens,  that  people  are  paid  home  in 
their  own  coin,  and  the  deceiver  himfelf  is  de- 
ceivedo 

The      remark. 

Though  it  be  commendable  in  all  men  to  {upply  their  want  of 
flrength  by  induftry  and  invention,  yet  they  ought  to  keep  their 
fkill  %\*ithin  the  bounds  of  juftice  and  honefty  ;  and  when  they  go 
beyond  it,  they  may  expett  (ome  time  or  other  to  be  ferved  as  the 
Lion  was  by  the  Horfc  ;  for  what  mei^fure  we  give  to  others,  we 
f^iall  be  ferved  in  the  fame  meafure  a^ain,  fconer  or  latter.  It 
•\vou]d  be  good  fSr  many  that  they  were  i'o  fnarp  fighted  as  the 
Horfc  here  was,  and  could  diftinguifli  between  a  good  Phyfician 
and  a  didenibling  quack,  and  fo  reward  them  accordingly;  then 
A'e  Ihould  net  fee  {o  mary  wheedled  out  of  tlicir  money,  as  well  as 
.heir  lives^ 


FABLE 


FABLES     OF     ^SOP. 


8j 


FABLE       LXXIV. 
The     boar' and     HORSE. 

THERE  fell  a  difpute  once  betwixt  a  Boar 
and  a  Horfe,  and  when  they  had  fought  n 
pretty  while,  the  Boar  got  the  better  on  him, 
and  beat  the  other  out  of  the  field.  The  Horfe, 
grieved  at  this  affront,  adviled  with  a  man  what 
courfe  he  fliould  take  to  be  revenged  on  the  Boar. 
The  man  told  him,  that  if  he  allowed  himlelf  to 
be  bridled  and  faddlcd,  and  take  one  on  iiis  back, 
with  a  lance  in  his  hand,  he  (hould  be  fufficienily 
revenged  on  him.  The  Horfe  agreed  to  it  ;  but 
though  he  got  his  enemy  killed,  yet  he  loil  hiS 
liberty  by  it,  and  mad[e  himfelt  a  Have  all  the  days 
of  his  life. 


The      MORAL. 

Me  is  a  madman,  who,  to  avoid  a  prefen:   and 
Jefs  evil,  runs  blindfold  into  a  greater. 

The       remark. 

This  Fable  difcovers  to  us  the  folly  of  fiich  as  make  themfcJves 
flaves  to  their  revenge  ;  for  no  man  fhould  be  fo  angry  with  another 
as  to  hurt  himfelf.  How  many  do  in  hade,  what  they  repent  at 
leifure;  and  for  the  gratifying  of  a  froward  humour,  make  them- 
felves  flaves  all  their  days,  as  the  Horfe  in  the  Fable?  who  hoi 
better  pafled  by  the  aftVont ;  but  his  ftomach  was  too  great,  and 
did,  as  many  others  do,  ruin  himfelf,  that  he  might  but  ruin  his 
enemy.  We  may  eafily  obfcrve,  by  this,  that  there  is  nothing 
better  for  a  man's  body,  as  well  as  the  fou!,  than  the  Chriflian  doc- 
trine of  the  forgiving  enemies  ;  though  the  world  look  upon  fuch 
as  pafs  by  affronts  to  be  nothing  elfe  but  cowards ;  and  that   nian 

that 


86 


FABLES    OF    ^SOP- 


that  runs  himfelf  upon  the  fword  of  another,  whom  he  would 
kill,  is  looked  upon  to  be  a  brave  gallant  man,  though  he  be  fuch 
another  fool  as  the  Horfc  in  the  Fable,  who  paid  deaf  for  his 
revenge. 


FABLE      LXXV. 

Two    YOUNG    iVIEN    and    a  COOK. 

^  I  ""WO  young  fellows  flipt  into  a  Cock's  (hop, 
and  while  the  Cook  was  buly  at  his  work, 
one  of  them  ftole  a  piece  of  fle(h,  and  conveyed  it 
to  the  other ;  the  Cook  miffed  it  immediately, 
and  challenged  him  with  the  theft.  He  that  took, 
it,  fwore  he  had  none  of  it,  and  he  that  had  it, 
fwore  as  confiderably  that  he  did  not  take  it. 
Well,  my  mafters,  iays  the  Cook,  thefe  tricks 
may  ■  be  put  upon  men,  but  there  is  an  eye  above 
that  fees  thro'  them. 

The      moral. 

When  we  do  any  thing  amifs,  and  think  our- 
felves  fecure  by  hiding  it  from  men,  God  who  is 
the  fearcher  of  hearts,  iees  it. 


The      remark. 

There  is  no  playing  faft  and  loofe  with  God  ;  for  double-dealing 
is  what  he  abhors.  And  fpppofe  this  way  may  lucceed  for  fomc 
time  among  men,  who  cannot  difcover  the  fecret  defigns  that  lurk 
in  a  man's  heart  ;  yet  at  lail  fuch  pcrfons  never  fail  of  betraying 
themfelves  ;  and  then  how  odious  do  they  appear  when  th^ir  kna- 
very is  found  out  r  No  truft  or  credit  is  given  them,  though  they 
back  their  promifes  with  repeated  oaths  ;  fo  that  the  common 
proverb  holds  true,  Honefty  is  the  bell  policy. 

FABLE 


F  A  B  L  E  S     o  F     iE  S  O  p.         87 
FABLE       LXXVI. 

A      FOX      AND      A      SICK      LION. 

AL  I  O  N  falling  fick,   all  the  hearts  came  to 
vifit    him,  except  the  Fox ;   whereupon  the 
Lion  fent  to  tell  him,  That  he  longed  to  fee 
him,  and  that  his  prefcnce  would  be  very  accept- 
able to  him.      He  moreover  defired  the  meffenger 
to  affure  the  Fox,  that,  for  feveral  reafons,  he  had 
no  occalion  to  be  afraid  of  him  ;  becaufe  the  Lion 
was    one  that  loved  the  Fox  very  well,  and  there- 
fore   defired   to   fpeak  with  him  ;  befides  that,  he 
lay  fo  fick    that   he    could    not  ftlr  to  do  the  Fox 
any  harm,  though  he  had  never  (o  great  a  mind  to 
it.    The  Fox    returned    a    very    obliging  anfwer, 
dcfiring  the    meffenger  to  acquaint  the  Lion,  that 
he  was  very  defirous    of  his  recovery,  and  that  he 
would    pray   to  the  gods  for  it ,  but  at  the  fame 
time  defired    to    be  excufed  for  not  coming  to  fee 
him,    as    other  hearts  had  done  :  For,  truly,  fays 
Reynard,  the  traces  of  their  feet  freighten  me,    all 
of  them    going  towards  his  Majefty's   palace,  but 
none  coming  back  again. 

The      MORAL. 

Words  are  not  to  be  trurted,  though  never  (o 
fair  i  we  muft  examine  mens  adions,  as  well  as 
their  words  and  promifes,  and  judge  of  the  one 
by  the  other,  if  we  would  efcape  their  mifchievous 
inventions. 

The 


88        FABLES    of    yESOPi 


The     remark. 

The  proverb  holds  true,  Larks  are  not  to  be  catched  with  chaff  c 
rthc  Lion,  by  his  pretended  ficknefs  and  weakncfs,  thought  that 
the  Fox,  in  point  of  civility,  ought  to  pay  him  a  vifit  ;  but  fend- 
ing fuch  a  kind  invitation,  fo  full  of  compliments,  was  ftill  a 
greater  obligation  on  the  Fox  to  pay  his  refpefts  to  him  ;  but 
Keynard  was  toofharp  fighted  not  to  fee  through  his  defign  ;  though 
truly  it  is  a  hard  matter  fometimes  to  diftinguilh  between  a  friendly 
invitation  and  an  hypocritical  fnare,  fo  that  a  man  is  often  at  a 
lofs,  not  knowing  but  he  may  difoblige  a  friend,  whilft  he  thinks 
only  to  fave  himfalf  from  the  hands  of  an  enemy.  However,  while 
the  world  is  full  of  tricks,  'tis  always  the  beft  and  wifeft  method  to 
lake  particular  care  where  ^ny  figns  of  fufpicion  appear. 


FABLE       LXXVIL 
A     STAG     AND     A     VINE. 

AS  T  A  G  that  was  hard  puflied  by  the 
huntimen,  ran  into'  a  vineyard,  and  took 
(heker  under-- the  root  of  a  Vine.  When 
the  huntimen  were-  gone,  and  he  thought  the 
danger  was  -over,  he  fell  prefently  to  browfing 
upon  the  leaves.  The  ruftling  of  the  boughs  made 
fome  of  the  huntfmen  apprehend  that  he  might  be 
there  :  So,  upon  a  ftrid:  fearch,  he  was  difcovered, 
and  (hoi  -,  and  as  he  was  dying,  he  faid,  How 
juftly  am  I  puniflied  for  offering  to  deftroy  my 
protedtor  ? 

The      MORAL. 

'Tis  but  juft  that  fuch  who  wrong  their  bene- 
fadtor,  (hould  be  punifhed  with  divine  vengeance. 

The 


FABLES     OF     yE  S  O  P.         8$ 


The      remark. 

There  is  nothing  mere  abominable  in  the  fight  of  God  and  man 
than  ingratitude  ;  and  fuch  as  repay  good  with  evil,  in  feeking  the 
ruin  of  their  proteftors,  feldom  efcape  the  judgments  of  God. 
This  Fable  expofes  the  bafenefs  of  this  vice,  as  many  other  Fables 
in  ^fop  do  :  but  all  that  God  commands,  or  men  preach,  or  beads 
pra6life,  againft  this  fin,  will  not  put  a  ftop  to  the  wicked  and  un* 
grateful  doings  of  malicious  fpirits ;  and  a  man  that  can  be  un- 
grateful, is  capable  of  any  manner  of  wickednefs. 


FABLE       LXXVIII. 
The     geese     and     CRANES. 

AS  fome    Geefe   and  Cranes  were  feeding  in  a 
countryman's   field    of   corn,    he    heard  the 
noife,  and    came   prefently   out  upon  them* 
The   Cranes  feeing  the  countryman,  they  fled  for 
it;    but    the  Geefc  tarrying  behind,  becaufe  of  the 
heavincfs  of  their  bodies,  were  catched. 

The      moral. 

This  Fable  fignifies,  that,  in  taking  of  a  town,- 
the  poor  eafily  efcape,  while  the  rich,  tarrying  be- 
hind to  fave  their  riches,  commonly  "lofe?-  both 
lives  and  eftates.  .  ^  . 

The      remark. 

It  13  ftrange  how  riches  alter  the  tempers  of  men  ;  how  timorous 
it  makes  fome  who  have  been  brave,  and  how  fecure  it  makes 
others,  who  trurtlng  to  their  money,  and  thinking  to  efcape  by  its 
means,  makes  them  only  the  greater  prey  to  their  enemies.  This 
Fable  is  a  fevere  rebuke   to  fuch  as  take  no  care  so  provide  for 

M  time 


90        FABLES     op    M  S  O  F. 

time  of  danger,  but  go  on  in  their  old  courfes,  until  they  be  fud- 
denly  dellroycd  ;  and  though  they  have  many  examples  to  warn 
them,  yt  their  vices  and  corrupt  afFeflions  fo  hang  about  them, 
and  clog  them,  that  they  never  will  cad  them  of,  until  they  arc 
brought  to  deftruflion. .  Had  the  GscCc  been  {o  wife  as  to  get  ofF 
with  the  Cranes,  they  might  have  faved  themfelves  ;  but  the  fweet- 
nefs  of  the  corn  whereupon  they  were  feeding,  and  the  weight  of 
their  dull  bodies,  quite  flopt  them,  until  they  werccatched. 


FABLE       LXXIX. 
A     TRUMPETER     taken     Prisoner. 

WHEN  an  army  had  been  routed,  a  Tram- 
peter  was  taken  prifdner  :  And  as  the  fol- 
diers  were  going  to  kill  him,  Gentlemen, 
fays  be,  why  fliould  yoa  kill  a  man  that  has  killed 
no  body  ?  You  /hall  die  the  rather  for  that,  fays 
one  of  the  company  5  when,  like  a  rafcal  as  you 
are,  you  don't  fight  yourfelf,  yet  fet  other  people 
together  by  the  earSe 

The      moral. 

He  that  provokes  others  to  mifchief,  is  as  much, 
if  not  more  guilty,  than  the  doers  themfelves^ 

The      remark. 

This  Fable  reproves  fuch  as  take  delight  in  fetting  people  toge- 
ther by  the  ears,  which  is  quiie  oppofite  to  the  Chriftian  duty  of 
being  peaceable  and  meek.  *^*  Ulelled  are  the  peace-makers,  (fays 
**  our  Saviour),  for  they  fhall  be  called  the  children  of  God." 
For  God  is  a  God  of  peace  and  love.  Malice,  hatred,  and  envy, 
which  make  fuch  difference  among  people,  proceed  from  Satan 
the  Prince  of  darknefs  ;  but  meeknefs,  goodnefs,  and  brotherly 
kindnefs,  is  what  Chriil,  the  Prince  of  Peace,  ftridly  commands. 
We  may  eafily  judge  by  peoples  p)raftice,  whofc  children  they  are  3 

for 


FABLES     OF     iESOP, 


91 


for  whofoever  takes  pleafure  in  diviuons,  flrife,  and  difcord,  mull 
be  of  their  father  the  devil,  whofe  works  they  do,  let  their  pretences 
bff  never  fo  fair. 


FABLE      LXXX. 
The    husbandman    and   STORK, 


A 


POOR  innocent  Stork  had  the  ill  hap  to 
be  taken  in  a  net  that  was  laid  tor  Geefe  and 
Cranes.  The  Stork's  plea  for-  hcrfelf  was 
limplicity,  good-nature,  and  the  love  of  mankind; 
together  with  the  fervice  (lie  did  in  picking  up 
venomous  creatures.  This  is  ail  true,  Coys  the 
Hufbandman  ;  bat  they  that  keep  ill  company 
(if  they  be  caiched  with  ill  company)  mult  ex«» 
pcdt  to  fuffer  With  ill  company. 

The     moral. 

A  man  is  efteemed  according  to  the  company 
he  keeps ;  for  it  is  a  common  laying,  which  will 
be  applied  in  this  caie,  That  birds  of  a  feather 
flock  together. 

The      remark. 

There  are  many  inconveniencies  that  attend  the  keeping- of  bad 
company.  A  lewd  and  wicked  example  will  be  ready  to  have  in- 
fluence upon  the  perfon  that  frequents  vicious  company  ;  and  if  he 
fhouldefcape  from  the  plague,  which  is  very  rare,  yet  his  credit  and 
reputation  fuffers  ;  fo  that  when  the  good  and  bad  are  taken  tooether, 
they  muft  fuffer  together  ;  for  it  is  a  common  proverb,  Shew  me  the 
company,  and  I'll  fliew  you  the  man.  'Tis  the  bad  fortune  of 
many  a  good  man  to  fall  into  bafe  company,  and  to  be  undone  by 
it,  and  yet  be  no  ways  guiky  of  the  iniquity  of  his  companions: 
But  was  a  man  never  f»  innocent,  it  is  a  ihame  anddifhonour  to  be 

taken 


92         FABLES     OF     ^SOP. 

taken  with  rogues ;  for  very  /ew  eliape  from  being  poifoned  wit^ 
their  vices.  And  it  holds  very  true  what  the  apoftle  fays,  **That 
**  evil  comiTiUnication  corrupts  good  manners.'* 

FABLE       LXXXL 

The     wasps     and     PARTRIDGES. 

A  FLIGHT  of  Wafps,  and  a  covey  of  Par- 
-^^  tridges,  that  were  hard  put  to  it  for  want  of 
water,  went  to  a  farmer,  and  begged  a  fup  of  him 
to  quench  their  third.  The  Partridges  offered  to 
dig  his  vineyard  for  it  -,  and  the  Wafps  promifed 
to  fecure  him  from  thieves.  Pray  hold  your  peace, 
fays  the  farmer,  I  have  Oxen  and  Dogs  to  do  me 
thefe  offices  already,  and  am  refolved  to  provide 
for  them  in  the  firft  place. 

T  If  E      MORAL. 

Charity  begins  at  home:  And  it  is  very  true 
which  the  apoftle  fays,  "  He  that  does  not  provide 
**  for  his  own  family,  is  worle  than  an  infidel. 

The      remark. 

People  ought  to  know  well  how  to  bellow  their  chanty.  For  a 
man  to  rob  his  family  of  what's  neceflary,  under  pretence  of  cha- 
rity, is  like  the  facrifice  of  the  wicked,  which  is  an  abomination  to 
the  Lord:  But  people  ought  not,  under  the  cloak  of  providing  for 
themfelves  and  families,  when  they  have  afHuence  and  plenty, 
refufe  to  diftribute  to  the  neceilities  of  the  poor;  forthiois  what 
will  not  excufe  them  ;  neither  is  it  poflible  that  fuch  can  love  God  or 
his  neighbour;  tor,  as  the  apoftle  fays,  *'  He  thatfeeth  his  brother 
want,  and  fhutieth  up  his  bowels  of  compaflion  againll  him,  how 
can  the  love  of  God  be  in  him  ?"  A  man's  prudence  will  always 
direft  him  how  to  behave  himfelf  in  fuch  cafes ;  only  let  a  man  be 
fincere  in  what  he  does,  for  God  lovcth  a  chearful  giver. 

FABLE 


FABLES     oif     ^  S  O  P.         93 

FABLE       LXXXir. 

A     DAW     AND     PIGEONS. 

AD  A  W  took  particular  notice  of  Pigeons  in 
a  dcvc-houie,  that  they  v/ere  wcii  icd  and 
provided  for  ;  fo  he  went  and  painted  him- 
felf  of  a  dove  colour,  and  fed  among  the  Pigeons, 
So  long  as  he  kept  fileni,  this  palkd  very  well ; 
but  it  happened  that  forgetting  himlclf  he  icll  a 
chattering;  upon  which  difcovery  he  v^'as  turned 
out  of  the  dove-houfe,  and  when  he  cannc  to  his 
old  companions,  they  would  not  receive  him.  So, 
by  thib  means,  he  loll  both  parties. 

The       MORAL. 

He  that  halts  between  two  opinions,  lofes  him- 
felf  with  both  parties  5  for  when  he  isdifcovered, 
he  is  found  true  to  neither. 

The     remark. 

Some,  by  grafping  at  too  much,  lofe  all ;  and  by  aiming  at  what 
they  have  not,  and  cannot  well  obtain,  lofe  what  they  had  before. 
And  men  do  but  make  themfelves  ridiculous,  in  iniitatii-,g  that 
which  they  cannot  do.  For  though  the  Daw  painted  herfeU  like  a 
Pigeon,  yet  it  did  not  make  her  one  :  And  though  a  man  put  him- 
felf  into  another  man's  (hape,  yet  he  is  commonly  cifcovered.  Tha 
hypocrite  is  never  fo  far  fiom  being  a  good'  Chrillian,  as  when  he 
looks  like  it  ;  and  double-dealers  are  always  difcovered  by  fome 
accident  or  other  ;  and  then  both  parties  beat  them  away.  So  thaf 
every  man  ought  to  be  true  and  honelt  to  what  he  undertakes. 


FABLE 


94        FABLES     of     ^SOR 

FABLE      LXXXIIL 

The     fox     and     SNAKE, 

A  FOX  and  a  Snake  chancing  to  meet,  the 
Snake  began  to  e.:tertain  the  Fox  with  a  long 
Itory  concerning  her  beauty,  and  the  plea- 
fant  and  charming  colours  of  her  (potted  (kin. 
The  FojT,  weary  with  the  difcourfe,  interrupted 
her,  and  laid,  That  the  beauty  of  the  mind  was  of 
much  greater  value  and  excellency  than  that  of  a 
painted  outfide. 

The      moral. 

A  good  underftanding  is  a  blefling  far  oKcceding 
all  outward  bcaufy. 

The      remark. 

Many  men  are  re^6y  to  prefer  the  outward  bleikngs,  fuch  as 
beauty,  nature,  and  riches,  to  wifd  m,  temperance,  and  piety,  and 
other  inward  blefiings,  far  more  valuable,  for  ihey  only  repreient 
man,  and  diftinguiih  him  irom  the  beafts.  We  have  few  outward 
advantages  beyond  the  other  creatures,  but  we  are  interior  to  them 
.in  many,  fuch  as  in  firengtli,  fwiftnefs,  hearing,  feeing,  and  all 
the  other  fenfes  :  So  that  were  it  not  for  inward  advantages,  man 
would  be  rather  a  prey  to,  than  a  lord  over  the  creatures.  How 
unaccountable  is  the  mod  part  of  mankind,  that  run  fo  much  upon 
their  fenftial  appetites,  and  negled  the  nobler  part  of  man,  the 
foul !  fo  that  they  are  worfe  than  the  beafts  that  perifh. 


FABLE 


FABLES    aF     JE  S  O  Fi         95 
FABLE       LXXXIV. 

The     chough     and     SWALLOW. 

THE  Chough   and    Swallow   fell  into  a  warm 
difpute  about  their  beauty  i  and  as  the  Swal- 
low   infilled    mightily  on  hers,  and  claimed 
the   advantage.   Nay,  lays  the  Chour^h,  you  forget 
that   your    beauty  decays  with  the  ipring,  whereas 
mine  lafts  all  the  year  round. 

The      moral. 

Of  two   things   equally   good,    that  is  the  heft 
which  lafts  iongeft. 

The      remark. 

'the  grcateft  bleffings  we  can  enjoy  in  this  world  are  health  and 
long  life,  which  are  lliil  more  valuable  the  longer  we  enjoy  them  ; 
but  yet  the  (trongelt  man  maft  exped  to  fall  fick  fooner  or  latter, 
and  the  longell  life  has  an  end.  So  that  thcfe,  together  with  riche«, 
honours,  and  pieaiures,  are  like  the  Swallow's  beauty,  which  lafts 
but  for  a  time.  Cut  piety  and  goodnefs  are  what  affords  a  man  not 
only  fatisfadlion  in  this  life,  but  aUb  joys  that  fhall  endure  for  ever 
in  that  life  which  is  to  come.  Therefore  they  are  fools  who  value 
themfelves  upon  the  ftiort-lived  pleafures  of  this  life,  as  the  Swallow 
did  upon  her  fpring  beauty,  and  negleft  to  fecure  to  themfelves 
thofe  lafting  pleafures  which  are  at  God's  right-hand  for  evermore. 

FABLE       LXXXV. 

A     FATHER     and    his     SONS. 

AN  honed  man,  who  had  the  misfortune  to  be 

the  Father  of  a  contentious  brood  of  Children, 

endeavoured  all  he  could  to  make  them  to  be  more 

friendly 


96        FABLES     of     JE  S  O  ?. 

friendly  towards  one  another  ;  and  one  day,  haV* 
ing  called  them  before  him,  he  brought  a  bundle 
of  flicks,  and  defired  his  Children  t>  take  it,  and 
try,  one  after  another,  with  all  their  force,  if  they 
could  break  it :  They  tried,  but  could  not  Well, 
fays  he,  unbind  it  now,  and  take  every  one  a  flick 
of  it  apart,  and  fee  what  ye  can  do  that  way : 
They  did  as  he  defired,  and  with  great  eafe  they 
fnapt  every  one  of  the  flicks  to  pieces.  The  Fa- 
ther then  told  them,  Children,  your  condition  is 
exadlly  that  of  the  bundle  of  flicks;  for  if  you 
keep  together,  you  aie  fafc ;  but  if  you  divide 
you  are  undone. 

The      moral. 

Small  things  incrcafe  by  peace  and  unity,  where- 
as  great  things  decay  and  dwindle  away  to  no- 
thing by  difcord. 

The      remark. 

Divifion  is  what  has  been  the  ruin  of  great  and  powerful  king- 
doms, as  well  as  of  private  families.  Was  it  not  divifion  that  cx- 
pofed  Chriftians  to  the  fury  of  the  Turks,  Infidels,  Barbarians  ? 
and  every  one  knows  how  fatal  divifion  is  to  private  families,  where 
all  things  go  to  ruin,  when  one  drives  againft  another.  And  it  is 
a  ftrange  thing  that  men  cannot  do  this  with  all  their  knowledge 
and  reafon,  what  the  brutc-beafts  do  ;  for  we  find,  that  even  the 
iierceft  of  them,  fucfi  as  Tygers,  Wolves,  and  Bears,  agree  among 
therafelves.  Niiy,  the  very  devils,  who,  tho'  they  be  like  fo  many 
firebrands,  fetting  mankind  together  by  the  ears,  yet  they  feem  to 
agree  among  themfelves.  For  our  Saviour  fays,  "  If  Satan  be 
*'  divided  again  ft  himfelf,  how  can  his  kingdom  ftand  ?"  There 
is  not  one  precept  fo  o.'ten  enjoined  by  our  Saviour,  as  unity  and 
brotherly  love;  for  he  makes  it  the  diftinguifhing  mark  of  his 
fervants  ;  "  By  this  fliall  all  men  know  (fays  he)  that  ye  are  my 
«*  difciples,  if  ye  love  one  another.*' 

FABLE 


FABLES    OF    ^SOF.        97 

FABLE      LXXXVr. 
The     fox   that    lost    his    TAIL; 

AF  O  X  having  his  Tail  cut  ofF  to  get  out 
of  a  trap,  when  for  fliame  he  thought  it 
death  to  hve,  devifed  to  perfuade  other 
Foxes  to  cut  off  rheirs,  under  pretence  t)t  common 
benefit,  but  really  to  leffen  his  own  difgrace.  The 
Foxes  therefore  iiaving  convened,  he  told  chem, 
that  their  Tails  were  not  only  a  dilgrace  to  them, 
but  an  ufelefs  burden.  One  of  them  who  heard 
him,  fmartly  anlWered,  O  brother  !  where  is  your 
juftice,  to  advife  us  all  to  do  a  thing  which  will  be 
to  nobody's  advantage  but  your  own  ? 

The      moral. 

This  Fable  belongs  to  them,  who,  under  a  (hew 
of  charity  and  kindnefs  to  others,  aim  at  their  ov/n 

profit  and  advantage. 

The      remark. 

The  mofl  part  of  mankind  aPe  To  wicked,  that  they  never  lovti 
to  be  miferable  without  company.  When  they  mhke  any  falfe 
flep,  or  find  themfelves  guilty  of  any  overfight  or  miftake,  they 
never  think  how  to  come  ofl'handfomely,  or  how  to  corred  their 
error.  No,  this  is  the  Jeaft  of  their  thoughts  :  Then  tKeir  only 
ftudy  is  how  to  deceive  others  :  And  to  fucceed  the  better  in  their 
defign,  they  never  fail  to  ufe  fair  words,  to  tender  feemingly  whol- 
fome  and  charitable  counf'l  without  being  afked,  and  never  give 
over  till  they  have  perfaaded  others  to  run  into  the  fame  fnare 
wherein  they  themfelves  v/sre  caught.  In  this  they  imitate  the 
devil,  who,  hnding  himfelf  miferable  by  his  own  doings,  was  never 
»t  reft,   until    he    perfuaded    cur  firft  parents  to  ruin   themfelves. 

N  Whar 


■g5        FABLESoF     ^SOP. 

What  fmooth  language  did  he  ufe,  how  fpecious  arguments,  W 
entice  two  innocent  creatures  to  be  partakers  of  his  guilt  ?  If  this 
fad  truth  were  well  imprinted  in  our  memory,  rt  would  prove  to 
us  as  a  beacon  to  feamen,  and  fhew  us  how  to  efcape  thefe  dangers, 
and  hidden  rocks  of  flattery  and  pretended  charity,  whereupon  (o 
many  fuffer  ihipwreck. 


F,A  B  L  E       LXXXVII. 

The     fox    and     HUNTSMEN. 

AF  O  X  that  had  been  hard  run,  begged  of 
a  country-man,  whom  he  faw  hard  at 
work  in  a  wood,  to  help  him  to  fome  hid- 
ing-place :  The  man  direfted  him  to  his  cottage, 
and  thither  he  went.  He  was  no  fooner  got  in, 
but  the  Huntfmen  wtrc  prefently  at  his  heels,  and 
afked  the  cottager,  if  he  did  fee  a  Fox  that  Wray  ? 
No,  truly,  fays  he,  I  faw  none ;  but  pointed,  at  the 
fame  time  with  his  finger,  to  the  place  where  he 
lay.  The  Huntfmen,  it  feems,  did  not  under- 
ftand  bis  meaning  j  but,  the  Fox  fpied  him,  how- 
ever, thro'  a  peeping  hole  he  had  found  to  fee 
whajt  news.  So  the  Foxhunters  went  away  ;  and 
then  out  ftcals  the  Fox  without  one  word  fpcak- 
ing.  Why,  how  now,  fays  the  man,  have  you 
oot  the  manners  to  take  leave  of  your  hoft  before 
you  go  ?  Yes,  yes,  fays  the  Fox,  if  you  had  been 
as  honeft  ci  your  fingers  as  you  were  of  your 
tongue,  I  iTiould  not  have  §jpne  without  bidding 
you  tarcwel. 


The 


FABLES    OF     m  S  O  P.        99 


The      moral. 

Man  may  difcover  things  by  figns  as  well  as 
words,  and  his  confcience  is  as  qnfwcrable  for  his 
fingers  as  his  tongue. 

The     R  E  M  a  R  Ki 

There  is  no  trufting  thofe  that  fay  one  thing  and  do  another, 
cfpecially  if  they  follow  fair  words  with  foul  deeds.  It  is  a  bafe 
and  treacherous  thing  for  one  'man  to  betray  one,  who  commits 
himfelf  to  his  mercy,  efpecially  when  he  lies  under  all  the  ties  «*f 
honour,  truft,  and  faith,  to  preferve  him.  There  be  many  inftances 
of  the  Woodman's  double-dealings  in  ihefe  bad  times  ;  tor  interefl 
is  the  only  rule  ^'hereby  men  now  walk,  svithout  regard  to  God  or 
their  neighbour  ;  and  where  it  intervenes,  it  difcharges  all  our  ob- 
ligations. And  let  people  pretend  to  what  religion  they  will,  gold 
and  money  is  now  the  god  they  adore  ;  which  makes  the  father  be- 
tray the  fon,  the  mother  the  daughter,  and  the  fervaivt  the  mailer  : 
So  what  our  Saviour  foretold  may  be  applied  to  thefc  times.  That  a 
man's  enemies  fhouid  be  thofe  of  his  own  houfe  ;  as  ihat  alio  of 
St.  Paul's,  •*  In  the  lad  days  perilous  times  (hall  come;  for  men 
**  fliall  be  lovers  of  their  own  felves,  covetous,  unthankful,  iruce- 
**  breakers,  without  natural  affedtion,  traitors,  having  a  form  of 
"  godlinefs,  but  denying  the  power  thereof." 


FABLE      LXXXVin. 
Thb     fox     and     BRAMBLE. 

t 

AF  O  X  that  was  clafcly  purfued  took  to  a 
hedge  5  the  bufiics  gave  way,  and  in  catch- 
ing hold  of  a  Bramble  to  break  his  fall,  "the 
prickles  ran  into  his  feet  :  Upon  this  he  laid  him- 
felf down  ^d  fell  a  I'cking  of  his  paws,  with  bit- 
ter complaints  againft  the  Bramble^  Good  words, 
Reynard,    fays    the    Bramble ;    one  would   have 

thought 


joo       FABLES     OF     ^  S  O  P, 

thought  you  would  have  known  belter  things, 
than  to  exped  a  kindnefs  from  a  common  enemy, 
and  to  lay  hold  on  that  for  relief,  which  catches 
at  every  thing  elfe  for  mifchief. 

The      moral. 

There  are  fome  malicious  natures,  that  place  all 
their  delight  in  doing  ill  turns  j  and  that  man  is 
hard  put  to  it,  who  is  firft  brought  into  a  diftrefs, 
and  then  to  come  to  fuch  people  for  relief. 

The      remark. 

'Tis  a  great  folly  to  fly  for  proteftion  to  pfcple  who  naturally 
delight  in  mifchief.  The  Fox  blames  the  Brambles  here,  but  he 
may  ihank  himfelf  ;  for  how  could  he  expeft  any  good  or  kindnefs 
where  there  is  none?  It  is  a  fatal  thing  for  men,  when  God  is 
cfFended  with  tHem,  to  go  to  the  devil  for  relief.  This  is  what 
deftroyed  Saul,  and  proves  daily  the  deftrudUon  of  many.  Men 
commonly,  when  purfued  by  an  evil  confcience,  and  prelTed  hard 
by  the  guilt  of  their  fms,  run  to  a  tavern,  and  drown  their  feijfes  in 
a  debauch,  or  elfe  go  a  whoring  or  gaming,  with  a  defign  to  Difle 
thefe  thoughts;  though  all  thtfe  ih if ts  afford  no  better  comfort 
than  the  Bramble  did  the  Fox,  rather  adding  lo,  than  diminifhing 
thefe  Itings. 


FABLE      LXXXIX. 

A    MAN     AND    A    WOODEN    GOD; 

A  MAN  that  had  a  great  veneration  for  an 
^  image  he  had  in  his  houfe,  found  that  the 
more  he  prayed  to  it,  the  more  he  went 
down  the  hill  ftill.  This  put  him  into  fuch  a 
rage,  to  pray  fo  Jong  and  fo  earneftly,  and  yet  to 
fo  iitde  purpofc,  that  at  laft  he  daihdd  the  head  of 

ic 


FABLES     ot     ^SOP.        lot 

it  to  pieces  againft  the  wall,  and  out  conies  a  con- 
fiierable  qaantity  of  gold.  Why,  this  it-is,  fays 
he,  to  adore  a  perverfe  and  fenfelels  deity,  that  will 
do  more  for  blows  ihan  for  vvorfliip. 

The      moral. 

If  we  ever  exped  good  from  a  bad  perfon,  it  is 
•  only  when  he  is  forced  to  do  it* 

The      REfvIARK. 

THiis  wooden  Image  is  like  a  great  many  in  the  world,  who,  not- 

l^jj^thftanding    all  the    aj5plication    that   people  make  to   them,  and 

their   depeudancc  oa    them,    yet   never  do  any    good,    either  for 

prayers  or  entreaties,  until  they  are  forced  to  it  by  neceffity.     This 

Image    refembles  alfo    thofe  bafe  and  ftupidly  covetous  wretches, 

'  with    whom    neither   prnyer:,  tears,    or  the    dillrcired  condition  of 

their  fuftering  brethren,  nay,  nor  the  neccfTitics  of  thiir  own  neareil 

relations,  can  prevail    to  part   with  their  money    till    they  die  ;   fo 

mult    needs  part  with  it    when  they  can   no    longer    ke<^p  ft  ;  and 

which   often   times  falls  into  the  hands  of  thofe  who  longed  moit 

'  for  thcjir  death,  and  (hewed  them  leall  refpedl  when  alive. 


FABLE       XC. 

MERCURY  AND  A  TRAVELLER. 

ONE  that  v/as  entering  upon  a  long  journey, 
made  his  prayers  to  Mercury,  wiih  a  pro- 
mife  that  he  fhould  go  half  with  him  in 
whatever  he  found.  It  was  his  good  fortune  to 
find  a  bag  of  dates  and  almonds  5  he  went  to 
work  upon  them  immediately  ;  znd  when  he  had 
eaten  the  kernels,  and  all  that  v/as  good  of  them 
himfelf,   he  laid  the  ftones   and   ilieils   upon  the 

altar. 


102        FABLES    OF     ^SOP. 

altar,  and  defired  Mercuiy  to  take  notice  that  he 
had  performed  his  vows  j  for  here,  fays  he,  are 
the  outfidcs  of  the  one,  and  the  infides  of  the 
other. 

• 
The       moral. 

'Tis  a   vain  thing  to  fuppofe  that  we  can  put-a 
trick  upon  God,  and  think,  jhat  after  folemn  vow§  . 
and  promifes,   we  may  come  off  with  fuch  flender 
performances. 

The      rem  A.R  K. 

Men  may  talk  as  if  they  believed  in  God,  but  they  live  as  if  thcr^'-'% 
v\«ere  none  ;  for  their    very  prayers  and  vows  are  mockeries  ;  an4  - 

what  they  fay,    they  never  intend    to  make  good.     If  men  did  nar-  1 

rowly  fearch  their  own  hearts,  they  would  find,  that,  more  or  lefs,  -• 
they  are  jugglers  in  fecret  betwixt  heaven  and  iheir  own  fculs  ; 
many  «  thcufand  wicked  and  falfe  things  can  they  charge  them- 
felves  with,  which  they  hide  as  the  greatttl  fecret  in  the  world 
from  their  neighbours;  but  did  they  rightly  Gonfider,  that  the 
almighty  Gcd  fees  them,  from  whom  nothing  can  be  hid,  and 
who  will  jua^  the  fecrets  of  all  mens  hcans  in  the  day  of  judg- 
ment ;  I  fay,  did  they  but  ferioufly  connder  this,  they  would  do 
nothing  in  feq-et,  but  what  they  might  expcfe  to  the  eye  of  the; 
whole  world. 

FABLE      XCI. 
A  Sick  M  A  N  making  large  Promifes, 

AP  O  O  R  fick  Man,  given  over  by  the  Phyfi- 
cians,  betook  himlelf  to  prayers  and  vowed 
to  facrifice  a  thcufand  bullocks  to  t;ither  i^.poilo  or 
jffifculapius,  which  of  the  two  v^^ould  deliver  him 
from  his  difcales.     Ah  !  my  dear,  fays  his  wife, 

who 


FABLES     OF     iESOP:       103. 

who  was  ftanding  by,  have  a  eare  what  you  pro- 
mife;  for  where  would  you  have  thsfeoxen  (hould 
you  recover  ?  Wife,  fays  the  fick  Man,  thou  talk- 
ed like  a  fool ;  have  the  gods  nothing  elfe  to  do, 
dofl:  thou  think,  than  to  leave  their  heavenly  bufi- 
nefs,  and  come  to  this  lower  world  to  fue  me  in 
an  adion  of  debt  ?  They  heard  his  prayer,  how- 
ever, and  reftored  him  for  that  time,  to  make  trial 
of  his  honefty  and  good  faith.  He  was  no  fooner 
up,  but  for  want  of  living  oxen,  he  offered  upon 
an  altar  fo  many  pieces  of  parte  made  up  in  the 
fliape  of  oxen.  For  this  mockery  divine  yenge- 
iance  purfued  him  5  and  he  had  an  apparition  came 
to  him  in  a  dream,  that  bid  him  go  and  fearch  in 
fuch  a  place  near  the  coaft,  and  he  fliould  find  a 
confiderable  treafure.  Away  he  went,  and  as  he 
was  looking  for  money,  he  fell  into  the-  hands  of. 
pirates.  He  begged  hard  for  his  liberty,  and  of- 
fered a  thoufand  talents  in  gold  for  his  ranfdm  ; 
but  the  pirates  would  not  truft  him,  and  fo  carried 
him  away,  and  fold  him  afterwards  as  a  (lave  for 
as  many  groats. 

T»H  E       MORA  L. 

Many,  in  their  adverfity,  promife  to  God  more 
than  they  intend  to  make  g«od  in  their  profperity. 

The       remark. 

'TIs  the  pra<flice  of  the  world,  for  people  in  diftrefs,  to  Cervc  God 
and  mankind  alike.  For  when  they  lie  under  any  heavy  affliaion, 
and  find  they  have  need  of  another's  help,  how  do  they  vow  and 
promife,  and  yet  are  confcious  to  themfelves,  that  they  neither  in- 
tend or  are  able   to  majke  any  one  article  good  ?  What  a  rafh  aad 

knavifli 


IP4        FABLES    OF    i^  S  O  P. 

knavifh  promife  is  it  in  this  poor  fellow,  who  could  not  but  know 
that  he  was  in  no  cafe  able  to  perform  his  vow  ?  So  his  deiign 
could  be  nothing  elfe  but  to  put  a  trick  upon  God,  if  he  could  : 
The  fbolifh  attempts  of  men,  who,  while  they  think  to  cheat  God, 
only  cheat  themfelvps.  What  the  apolUe  fays  is  very  applicable 
in  this  cafe,  "  Be  not  deceived,  for  God  will  not  be  mocked  ;  for 
•*  as  you  fow  here,  fo  fhall  ye  reap  hereafter. '*  And  fo  we  fee 
vengeance  overtook  this  wretch  at  laft. 


FABLE      XCIL 

An     ape     and     a     FOX. 

UPON  the  death  of  the  Lion,  the  beafls*met 
in  council  to  chufe  a  King  :  Several  put 
in  for  it ;  but  one  wanted  brains,  another 
flrengtb,  and  a  third  flature,  or  fomething  elfe  : 
At  laft  the  Buffoon  Ape,  with  his  grimaces,  car- 
ried it  ffom  the  whole,  by  I  do  not  know  how 
manv  voices.  The  Fox  being  one  of  the  pretend- 
ers, was  not  well  pleafed  to  fee  the  choice  go 
againft  him,  and  preiently  whifpered  the  i^ew  King 
in  the  ear,  that  be  could  do  him  a  piece  of  fecret 
fervice  :  Sir,  fays  he,  I  have  difcovered  fome  hid- 
den treafure  yonder  5  but  feeing  it  is  a  right  be- 
longs to  your  Majefly,  I  have  nothing  to  do  with 
it.  So  he  carried  the  Ape  to  take  poflcfiion  ;  and 
what  fhould  this  treafure  be,  but  a  bait  in  a  ditch  ? 
The  Ape  lays  his  hand  upon  it,  and  the  trap 
fprings,  and  catches  him  by  the  finger.  Ah  ! 
thou  perfidious  wretch,  cries  the  Ape!  Ah  !  thou 
filly  Pfiricc,  rather,  replies  the  Fox  ;  thou  a  go- 
vernor of  others,  v^ith  a  vengeance,  that  han't  wit 
enough  to  look  to  your  own  fingers  1 

The 


FABLES     OF     iE  S  O  P.        io| 


The      moral. 

'Tis  a  great  unhappinefs  to  people,  to  have  fach 
a  governor  as  can  neither  take  care  of  them,  nor 
of  himfelf,  by  diftinguiQiing  between  bad  and  good 
counfellors. 

The      remark. 

*Tis  tbe  greateft  blefling  of  a  kiogdom  to  have  a  wife  and  pru- 
dent Prince  ;  neither  can  there  be  a  greater  fign  of  the  divine  fa- 
vour towards  it  :  "  Happy  are  the  people  (fays  the  Queen  of  Sheba 
to  Solomon)  that  hear  thy  wifdom  ;  becaufe  the  Lord  loved  Ifracl, 
therefore  made  he  thee  King  to  do  judgment  and  juftice."  And 
indeed,  no  kingdom  was  fo  flourifhing  as  that  of  Ifrael,  under  the 
reign  of  the  wifeft  of  Kings.  But  how  miferable  and  diftrafted 
was  it,  when  fuch  a  weak  Prince  as  his  fon  Rehoboam  reigned, 
who  forfook  the  coanfel  of  the  old  men  who  flood  before  his  father 
Solomon,  and  followed  the  counfel  of  the  young  men.  And  fuch 
will  be  the  fate  of  all  nations  that  have  weak  Kings,  and  cunning 
and  defigning  counfellors. 


FABLE       XCIIL 

A     LION     IN     LOVE. 

ALION  was  in  love  with  a  country-Iafs^ 
and  dcfired  her  father's  CQofent  to  have  her 
in  marriage.  The  anfwer  he  gave  was 
churlifh  enough  :  He  would  never  agree  to  it,  he 
faid,  upon  any  terms,  to  marry  his  daughter  to  a 
beaft.  The  Lion  gave  him  a  very  four  look,  which^ 
brought  the  fellow,  upon  fecond  thoughts,  to  ftrike 
mp  a  bargain  with  him,  upon  thefe  conditions,  thac 
his  teeth  fliould  be  drawn,  and  his  nails  pared  i 
thefe   were   things,    he   faid,  that  the  fooliih  girl 

O  was 


to6        FABLES     of     ^SOP. 

was  terribly  afraid  of.  The  Lion  fends  immedi-»^ 
ately  for  a  furgeon  to  do  iht  work  j  and  as  foon 
as  the  operation  was  over,  he  goes  and  challenges 
her  father  upon  his  promife.  The  countryman 
feeing  the  Lion  difarmed,  plucked  up  a  good  heart, 
and  with  a  fwinging.  cudgel  fo  ordered  the  matter, 
that  he  broke  off  the  match. 

The      moral. 

What  will  not  love  make  a  body  .do !  It  con- 
fults  neither  life,  fortune,  nor  reputation  ;  but 
facrifices  all  that  can  be  dear  to  men  of  fenfe  and 
honour,  to  an  extravagant  paffion.    . 

The       remark. 

What  llrange  alteration  does  this  paffion  make  ort  the  minds  of 
men  ?  There  is  nothing  fo  fierce  or  favage,  but  love  will  foften  it  : 
Nothing  fo  fliarp-fighted  in  other  matters,  but  it  makes  it  flupid 
and  blind.  What  a  vaft  number  of  examples  do  all  ages  furnifh  us 
with  of  this  kind  ?  The  flrongeft  men  both  of  facrcd  and  profane 
hiftory,  were  flaves  to  it :  All  the  wifdom  of  Solomon  could  not 
refift  it,  who,  to  his  fad  experience,  faid,  •*  That  love  was  ftrong 
"  as  death  ;  that  many  waters  could  not  quench  love,  neither  could 
**  the  floods  drown  it."  And  ho\^  often  does  he  caution  men  to 
take  care  of  this,  and  advifes  them  to  think  ferioufly  upon  the 
laws  of  God,  as  the  only  antidote  againft  it ;  for  the  command- 
mandment,  fays  he,  *'  Is  a  lamp,  and  the  law  is  light,  to  keep 
**  thee  from  the  evil  woman,  from  the  flattery  ofa  ftrange  woman  ; 
**  for  by  means  ofa  whorifh  woman  a  man  is  brought  to  a  piece 
**  of  bread."  We  have  fad  objeds  every  day  in  our  view,  who  are 
convinclnsj^  proofs  of  the  difRial  confequences  of  this  blind  and  be- 
witching pafTion. 


FABLE 


FABLES     OF     i?;  S  O  P.        107 
FABLE      XCIV. 

Two        COCKS       FIGHTING, 

TWO  Cccks  fought  a  diitl  for  the  maftery  of 
the  dunghill.  He  that  was  v/Grft;^d,  flunk 
away  into  a  corner,  and  hid  himfell:  The 
other  took  his  flight  up  to  the  t!tp  of  a  houfe,  and 
there,  with  crowing  and  clapping  his  wings, 
makes  a  prcclamation  of  his  victory.  An  Ea^le 
made  a  flop  at  him  in  the  middle  of  his  gallantry, 
and  carrying  the  conqueror  away  with  him,  his 
rival  took  poffcffion  of  the  dunghiii  they  coatsnded 
for,  and  had  all  his  miftreffcs  tq  hiinf^lf  again. 

The       moral. 

This  Fable  (hews,  that  he  who  is  too  proud  in 
profperity,  often  falls  headlong  into  adverfity. 

The      remark. 

Solomon  obferves  very  truly,  that  pride  oocth  before  Jedruiflion, 
And  how  many  inftances  have  wcof  fuch  whofc  pride  and  am'oitioa 
were  the  fore  runners  of  their  fall  ?  What  a  (hort  time  was  there 
betwixt  Haman  being  the  greatrit  iavourite  f.t  court,  and  his  being 
hanged  on  the  gallows  he  had  prepared  for  another  ?  Anditisnrt 
wonder  that  prouc  men  (hould  meei  with  fuch  falls,  when  tliey  have 
foch  a  ftrong  and  mighty  enemy  to  grapple  wiih  :  For  the  apoille 
affures  as,  **  That  God  refifteth  the  proud  "  It  fares  cften  with 
the  greateft  monarchs,  as  wiih  thefe  Cocks  ;  he  that  is  vidorious 
to-day,  may  be  a  flave  to-morrow.  With  what  proud  :4nd  blafphem- 
ous  words  did  the  king  of  Syria  infult  over  the  Jfraelites  ? 
but  we  fee  to  what  a  low  pafs  he  was  brought  by  the  deftroying 
hand  of  God.  belfhazzar  in  the  midft  of  his  glory  and  pomp,  had 
the  mortification  to  fee,  by  a  hand-wriiii.g  en  the  wal!,  himfelf  and 
hu  kingdom  condemned  into  the  haad*  of  the  Perfians. 

FABLE 


jp8        FABLES     OF     iESOP. 


FABLE       XCV. 

A    League  betwixt   the     WOLVES 
AND     SHEEP. 

A  W  A  Pv  once  broke  out  betv/een  the  Wolves 
\l\,  and  Sheep,  wherein  the  Sheep  had  for  the 
moft  part  the  better  on't,  being  affiftcd  by 
the  Dogs,  wkh  whom  they  had  made  an  alHance. 
The  Wolves  taking  this  into  conlideration,  fent 
embaffadors  to  the  Sheep  with  propofais  of  peace. 
The  Sheep  having  heard  the  propofais,  by  which 
they  were  to  have  the  Wolves  whelps  delivered  up 
to  them  fur  their  fecurity,  as  the  Wolves  were  to 
have  the  Dogs  for  theirs  delivered  up  to  them  -,  a 
peace  was  immediately  patched  up.  Some  time 
after  ss  the  Sheep  were  feeding,  as  they  thought, 
very  fecurely,  becaufe  of  the  late  agreement,  the 
Wolves  \^helps  fell  a  howling  ;  whereupon  the 
Wolves  came  prefcntly  rufliing  in,  complaining 
loud  that  the  Sheep  bad  broke  the  peace,  and 
were  uiing  their  hoftages  with  cruelty.  The  Sheep 
denied  the  charge,  but  to  little  or  no  purpofe  ; 
for  the  Wolves  fell  upon  them,  and  eafily  deftroy- 
ed  them,  knowing  that  they  had  no  more  Dogs 
to  (land  by  them. 

Tme      mo  R-A  L. 

Tis  the  greateft  folly  and  madnefs  imaginable, 
(0  think  true  and  iincere  friendihip  can  be  fettled 
Y/here    nature    herklf  has  placed  an  unalterable 

averlion 


F  A  B  L  E  S     OF     -^  S  O  p.        109 

averfioa  and  difagreement.  A  bloody  and  expen- 
five  war  does  not  half  fo  much  harm  to  a  nation, 
as  a  foolifli  and  ili-grcunded  peace. 

The       remark. 

Though  we  arc  advifed  in  fcripture  to  be  harmlefs  as  doves, 
yet  we  are  not  lefs  warned  to  be  prudent  as  ferpents.  No  nation 
ought  tamely  to  lillen  to  the  wheedling  propofals  of  an  enemy,  who* 
prefers  an  agreement  of  a  fufpenfion  and  ceflation  of  arms,  only  to 
gain  time  or  advantage,  either  to  fave  himfelf  when  he  finds  he  is 
too  hard  put  to  it  by  his  oppofers  ;  or  to  work  their  ruin,  by  en- 
ticing them  to  part  with  their  fureft  allies  and  defenders,  who  by 
their  afliilance  have  obliged  him  to  change  his  method,  and  lay 
afide  his  open  force,  and  have  recourfe  to  a  feeming  agreement, 
which  never  lafts  longer  than  he  can  break  it  with  convenience. 
Not  only  nations,  but  private  perfons  alfo,  ought  always  to  be  upon 
their  guard,  not  to  expofe  themfelves  to  the  cunning  and  cruelty  of 
felf-defifjning  neighbours,  who  ufe  fair  means  when  they  find  the 
foul  will  not  do,  to  ruin  thofe  they  find  in  the  way  to  hinder  their 
mifchievous  and  unwarrantable  defigns.  And  as  we  are  obli^^cd 
to  be  upon  our  guard  againft  our  temporal  enemies,  we  are  much 
more  againit  our  fpiritual  ones,  who  are  worfe  than  the  Wolves 
here  mentioned  in  the  Fable  ;  for  when  they  can't,  by  open  force, 
get  any  advantage  over  us,  they  prefently  have  recourfe  to  fmoothcr 
terms,  and  even  put  on  Sheep's  clothings  that  they  may  the  more 
conveniently  devour  the  flock. 


FABLES 


FABLES 

I    N 

PROSE     AND      VERSE. 

To  which  are  added, 
DIOGENES's    Account    op    ALEXANDER'! 

VisfcNG     HIM,    IN    OLD    EngLISH    VeRSB, 
WITH        T  H  S 

PROVERBS     •?      DIOGENES. 

FABLE      XCVI. 
The    Monkey,  the  Cat,  and  the  Chesnuts. 

A  MONKEY  obferving  his  Mafter  to  lay  fome 
Chefnuts  in  the  fire  to  roaft,  he  was  very 
defirous  to  tafte  of  them,  but  was  likewife 
much  afraid  of  burning  his  fingers,  fo  that  though 
he  often  attempted  to  take  them  out,  yet  he  was 
as  often  difcouraged  by  the  heat  of  the  fire ; 
whereupon  he  was  a  long  time  contriving  with 
himfelf,  how  to  attain  his  end  5  at  length  he  per- 
ceived a  young  Killing  lie  fleeping  by  the  fire, 
whereupon  he  prefently  refolvcs  that  Puis  fhall  bd 
his  inftrument  to  gain  his  purpofe :  and  catching 
her  up  in  his  arms  notwithftanding  her  fqualling,^ 

and 


3 12  FABLES 

and  all  th«  refiftance  (he  could  make,  yet  Pug 
being  ftronger,  takes  her  forefoot  in  his  hand,  and 
thrudting  it  into  the  fire,  gets  out  the  Chefnuts, 
which  he  with  much  greedinefs  devours.  The 
poor  Cat  had  her  foot  mifcrably  burnt,  and  afks 
him  weeping,  why  he  would  ufe  her  fo  cruelly 
without  any  provocation  given  him:  the  Monkey 
knew  he  had  Wonged  her,  and  could  fay  little 
in  his  own  vindication,  yet  willing  to  amake  a  lame 
defence  rather  than  none,  impudenny  replies  ;  I 
muft  confefs  ihe  jeft  was  fomewhat  fevere,  but  yet 
it  is  not  fo  much  as  you  juftly  deferve  to  fuffer^ 
conficiering  the  wicked,  (lothful,  and  fleepy  life 
that  you  lead. 

The      M  O  R  A  L. 

Some  men  care  not  what  abufes  they  put  upon 
others,  nor  what  troubles  and  danger  they  bring 
them  into,  fo  they  can  but  compafs  their  own 
ends  and  purpofes ;  and  how  many  are  made  ufe 
of  to  bring  about  the  defigns  and  contrivances  of 
ill  men,  who,  when  their  turn  is  ferved,  arc  fo'far 
from  gratifying  them,  that  they  fcoiF  and  la«gh  at 
their  eafinefs  and  folly. 


IF  A  B  L  E 


IN    PROBE   AND  VERS  E,      it% 

FABLE       XCVI. 

The    Monkey,  the  Cat,  and  the  ChesnutsJ 

AM  O  N  KB  Y  faw  his  Mafter  roaft 
Some  Chefnuts  by  the  fire, 
And  Pug  being  very  liquorifli 
To  tafte  them  did  defire ; 

But  was  afraid  to  burn  himfelf. 

Neither  could  he  contrive 
Which  way  he  without  trouble  might 

To   his   defign  arrive. 

But  feeing  Pufs  lye  by  the  fire. 

He  was  refolv'd,  that   (he 
The  pain  and  danger  fhould  endure 

His  inftrument  to  be. 

And  catching  her  into  his  arms. 

He  with  her  foot  doth  get 
The  roafted  Chefnuts,  which  he 

Moft  greedily  did  eat. 

The  Cat's  foot  is  feverely  burnt. 

Who  weeping  with  the  pain, 
Againft  the  Monkey*s  cruelty  •^ 

Doth  wofully  complain ; 

Quoth  (he,  why  haft  thou  us'd  me  thus, 
What  mifchief  have  I  wrought 

To  thee  or  thine,  that  thou  halt  now 
This  mifery  on  me  brought  ? 

P  Pug 


iH 


FABLES 

Pug  knew  that  he  had  wronged  her, 

And  little  had  lo  plead 
In  vindication  of  himfelf 

For  this  injurious  deed  : 

Yet  like  a  villain  he  replies. 
You  need  not  cry  and  roar. 

Since  for  your  flothful  wicked  life. 
You  ought  to  fuffer  more. 

For  you  and  all  your  kindred  too 
Mod  idly  fpend  your  time  ; 

Yea,  but  to  wet  your  feet  forfootb. 
You  think  a  grievous  crime. 

For  thcfe  and  other  faults,  whereof 
I  an    account  could  give. 

If  you  but  your  juft  merits  had 
You  don't  deferve  to  live. 

The      M  O  R  a  U 

111  men  do  very  feldom  mind 
What  hazards  others  run, 

On  their  behalf,  fo  that  they  can 
But  have  their  bufinefs  done. 


FABLE 


I 


IN    PROSE  AND   VERSE.       115 

FABLE      XCVir. 

The  Young  Mouse,   the  Cocr,  and  the  Cat. 

A  YOUNG  Moufe  and  an  only  fon,  had  been 
•^^  (b  carefully  bred  up  by  his  mother,  that  (he 
would  never  perniit  him  to  go  beyond  the  mouth 
of  her  hole.  But  growing  up,  the  young  creature 
had  a  dcfire  to  look  abroad  into  die  world,  which 
his  mother  was  very  fearful  he  (hould  do  ;  alas 
child,  fays  (he,  there  is  To  much  treachery  abroad, 
that  if  you  once  go  out  of  my  fight,  I  never  cxped: 
to  fee  you  again  -,  Dear  mother,  quoth  he,  fear 
norbing,  1  will  only  go  and  lo  k  through  the  cre- 
vice (if  the  door,  and  come  back  in(tandy;  his 
importunity  prevailed,  and  fo  he  goes  into  the 
next  room,  and  peeps  into  the  yard,  where  he  faw 
a  Cat  walk  ve^y  demurely  by  the  door,  who  laid 
heritlf  duwn  in  the  warn^  (f^r^  •  *^e  young  Moufe 
much  wondred  at  ht-r  graviiy,  aud  was  extrem  \y 
taken  with  her  fhape  and  (ober  carriage ;  [00a 
after  a  Cock  comes  by  very  bnfkiy,  who  clipping 
his  wings  fet  up  a  loud  crow,  whereat  our  young 
traveller  was  fo  affrighted,  that  all  pale  and  trem- 
bling, he  runs  back  to  his  mother,  who  glad  o£ 
his  return,  hugg'd  him  tenderly,  demanding  ftyji^ 
caufe  of  his  great  lurprizf,  and  fright  5  ah  mother 
quoth  he,  1  (aw  a  dreadful  creature  wjih  a  red 
piece  of  flclh  on  his  head  like?  a  cro\ynJ^and  ihc 
like  under  his  chin,  and  horns  on  his  heels,  who, 
with  things  like  arms,  beating  jjls  fides,  made  fuch 
a  horrible    noile,   as    alnroft    l^ared  me  out  ot  my 

wfc. 


ri6  FABLES 

wits,  jufl:  when  I  w?s  admiring  a  very  fine  creature,' 
of  fo  modeft  a  look,  and  (o  cleanly  and  neat,  ly- 
ing in  the  tun,  that  1  hardly  could  forbear  run- 
ning to  ki.'s  and  hugg  her  ;  the  old  M  ufe  per- 
ceiving his  rniftake,  my  dear,  iays  (he,  that  proud 
ftrutling  thing  will  never  huri  thee,  but  be  fure  to 
avoid  that  other  modcrft  one,  who  will  certainly 
be  the  death  of  thee  with  the  firft  opportunity. 

The      moral. 

We  muft  not  always  judge  of  men  by  their 
looks  and  carriage,  neither  are  fome  roaring  fparks 
fo  much  to  be  dreaded  as  fome  demure  and  fober 
knaves. 

FABLE       XCVIL 

The  Young  Mouse,  the  Cock,  and  the  Cat. 

A    YOUNG  Moufe  and  an  only  fon, 
•^^  With  tendernefs  and  care. 
Was  by  his  mother  bred,  who  of 
His  life  flood  in  much  fear. 

And  kept  him  clofe  within  her  hole 
1^  Till  grown,  who  then  doth  creep 

Into  the  adjoining  room  where  through 
A  crevice  he  doth   peep. 

And  in  the  yard  he  there  efpies, 

A  Cat  demure  and  grave,  • 
With  whom  he  wilhes  that  he  could 
$         But  fome  acquaintance  have.  •  ( 

Soo^ 


IN  PROSEand  verse:       117 

Soon  after  he  obferves  a  Cock, 

That  by  the  door  doth  go. 
Who  with  his  wings  did  clap  his  fides. 

And  chearfully  did  crow. 

At  which  the  Moufe  was  almoft  fcar'd 

Out  of  his  wits,  and   run 
Poft-hafbs  unto  his  mother,  who 

With  joy  receives  her  Son. 

Demanding  what  the  reafon  was 

Of  his  fo  great  aftVight  5 
Oh  mother,   1  have  feen,  quoth  he, 

A    very   dreadful  fight. 

A  Monfter  with  a  crown  on's  head. 

And  horn'd  heels  niarch*d  by, 
Who  with  his  arms  clapping  his  fides. 

Sent  forth  a  hideous  cry. 

Whereat  I  was  furpriz'd,  being  then 

Admiring  of  a  creature. 
Sober  and  modcft  in  her  look, 

And  of  a  handfome  feature. 

With  whom  I  was  refolv'd  to  make 

A  league  of  amity. 
The  mother  finding  by  his  talk. 

Her  fon's  fimplicity. 

She  tells  him  from  that  ftrutting  thing 

He  need  no  danger  fear. 
But  for  his  life,  he  never  fliould 

That  ferious  one  come  near. 

The 


iiS  FABLES 

The      moral. 

By  modeft  looks  we  fcarce  can  judge, 

What  really  men  are, 
For  the  demure  arc  oft  more  falfe, 

Than  huffing  fparks  by  far* 

FABLE       XCvill. 
The     Wolf     and     the     Mar  e. 

THE  Fox  2nd  Wdf  travelling  together,  they 
mcx  with  a  Mart^  which  h-d  a  Foal  by  her 
fide,  that  was  very  f  u  and  fmooth,  the  WUf 
was  almoft  famine 'd  with  hon  .er,  and  ritfired  his 
coul'in  Reynard  to  go  snd  afk  the  Marc  what  (he 
w^ould  take  lor  her  colt;  truly  lays  the  Mare,  I 
am  in  great  want  of  money,  and  wocld  wiiiingly 
fell  him  ;  and  what  do  you  value  him  at,  quoth 
the  Fox  ?  Why,  brother,  fays  (he,  the  price  is 
written  hi  my  hinder  foot,  and  if  you  pleafc  you 
may  read  h  ,  excuie  me.  Brother,  cries  the  Fox, 
for  I  cann(  t  read,  neither  do  I  defire  to  buy  your 
Foal  for  my f-lf,  but  am  only  fent  ps  a  meflcnger 
from  the  Wolf,  who  has  a  gre^t  mind  to  him; 
well,  faid  the  Mare,  let  him  come  himfelf,  and  no 
doubt  but  we  (ball  bargain  :  The  Fox  went  to 
the  Wolf,  and  carried  this  anfwcr,  afking  him  if 
he  could  read  writing  ;  read,  quoth  he,  do  you 
doubt  it  ?  Let.  me  tell  thee  coufin,  1  can  read  both 
Latin,  French,  Dutch,  and  Engliil)  j  I  have  ftu- 
died  at  the  univerfity,  aud  difputtd  with  feveral 
.  •  dodlors  5 


IN   PROSE   ANB   VERSE.       119 

dodtors ;  I  have  ken  many  famous  plays,  and 
heard  diverfe  trials  in  courts  of  judicature  ^  I  have 
taken  my  degrises  in  the  law,  and  there  is  no 
writing  but  I  can  readily  underftand^  well,  come 
on  then  quoth  the  Fox,  and  read  the  Value  of  the 
colt  in  the  Mare's  hinder  foot :  Away  he  goes  and 
defires  to  read  the  price,  fhe  lifts  up  her  foot, 
which  had  a  ftrong  iron  (hoe  newly  put  on  with 
many  fliarp  headed  nails  j  and  while  the  Wolf 
was  carneft  to  read  the  writing,  (he  ftruck  him  fo 
full  in  the  forehead,  that  he  fell  over  and  over, 
and  lay  a  long  while  for  dead,  all  bloody,  and 
forely  wounded,  while  the  Mare  went  trotting 
away  with  her  colt,  and  laughing  at  his  folly  and 
ftupidity.  At  length  recovering,  Coufin  Reynard, 
quoth  he,  what  a  rogui(h  trick  has  this  jade  ferv'd 
me  ?  for  thinking  the  nails  had  been  letters,  while 
I  was  reading  them,  (he  hit  me  fo  ftrongly  on 
the  face,  that  I  fear  my  fkull  is  broken.  Alas 
Coufin,  quoth  the  Fox,  I  find  the  proverb  true  in 
you,  That  the  greateft  fcholars  are  not  always  the 
wifeft  men. 

The       MORAL. 

Thofe  that  pretend  to  the  moft  learning,  and 
are  much  conceited  of  their  own  knowledge,  do 
many  times  fall  into  great  misfortunes,  and  are 
made  a  fcorn  of  by  thofe  that  bring  them  into 
mifchief, 


FABLE 


120  FABLES 

FABLE      XCVIIL 

The     Wolf     and     the     Mar  e. 

^"pHE  Fox  and  Wolf  together  walk'd 

^     Along  the  Forcft,  where 
They  faw  a  fat  brilk  wanton  colt. 
Which  fuck'd  a  lufty  mare. 

The  Wolf  was  almoft  ftarv'd,  and  fo 

He  Reyard  does  intreat 
To  afk  the  price  of  hin>,  that  he 

Might  fomething  have  to  eat.  v 

The  Fox  goes  to  the  Mare,  and  aflcs 

If  (he  her  Foal  will  fell. 
And  if  (he  willing  be  to  trade. 

The  lowed  price  to  tell. 

The  Mare  cries,  I  will  fell  him  if 

I  can  a  chapman  find, 
And  for  the  price  'tis  plainly  writ, 

Upon  my  foot  behind. 

He  knowing  the  Mare's  fubtility, 
Pretends  he  could  not  read, 

And  fo  dtfirous  to  be  cxcus'd. 
Declaring  that  indeed. 

It  was  not  for  himfelf  that  he 
Did  come  the  Colt  to  buy. 

But  at  his  uncle  Wolfs  requeft 
Who  was  but  juft  hard  by. 


Theft 


I  N  P  R  O  S  E  A  N  D  V  E  R  S  E,      lai 

Then  let  him  come  himfelf,  quoth  fhe. 

That  he  his  price  may  fee. 
And  if  he  my  propoials  like. 

We  quickly  ihall  agree. 

The  Fox  this  an/wcr  carried. 
Which  much  the  bead  amaz'd. 

That  ihey  fliould  think  him  fuch  an  Oaf* 
He  wonderfully  gaz*d. 

Read,  quoth  the  Wolf,  cuz,  doubt  not  that 

I  all  my  time  have  fpent 
In  learning,  and  in  all  known  tongues 

I  am  moft  excellent. 

He  then  goes  to  the  Mare,  who  had 

Been  newly  fliod,  to  read 
The  nails  which  he  thought  words  ^  but  whilft 

He  holdeth  clofe  his  head. 

The  treacherous  Mare  upon  the  fkull, 

Give  him  fo  fmart  a  blow, 
As  the  poor  Wolf  had  almoft  kill'd. 

And   backward  did  him  throw. 

The  Fox  then  cries,  Uncle,  I  find 

The  ancient  proverb  true. 
Great  fcholars  are  not  always  wife, 

As  now  'tis  fecn  by  you. 

The      MORAL. 

Thofe  that  pretend  to  underftand 

More  than  they  truly  know, 
Are  oft  abusM  and  mock'd  by  them 

That  feek  their  overthrow. 

9.  FABLE 


(22 


FABLES 


FABLE      XCIX. 
The     Wolf,    the    Fox,    and    the    Ape  s* 


A 


WOLF  in  the  midfl:  of  winter  was  ready  to 
die  for  want,  but  happening  to  meet  a  Fox, 
whom  he  obfcrved  to  be  fat,  and  in  good  cafe,  he 
alkcd  him  how  h^  came  to  live  fo  well  in  that 
hard  feafon  ;  the  Fox  fliev/ed  him  where  the  Ape 
and  her  young  lay  in  the  den,  faying,  had  it  not 
been  for  that  charitable  creature,  I  fhould  have 
wanted  as  much  as  you,  but  there  I  have  oft  been 
invited  and  found  kind  entertainment,  witnefs  the 
fragments  of  my  fupper  laft  night,  and  therewith 
gave  the  Wolf  feme  remains  of  his  meat,  which 
he  eat  with  greedinefs,  defiring  the  Fox  to  tell 
him  how  he  might  get  in  favour  with  the  Ape. 
That  is  not  difficult,  quoth  he,  only  by  framing 
ycifrfelf  to  flattery  and  lying  5  if  that  be  all,  quoth 
the  Wolf,  J  can  foon  pradice  it,  and  thereupon 
runs  v/iih  all  fpeed  to  the  den,  but  was  no  fooner 
in  e*re  he  cry'd  out,  Ah  fob  !  what  a  nafty  (link 
is  here;  and  then  feeing  the  old  Ape  hugging 
her  deformed  young  ones  ;  furely,  quoth  he,  in 
all  my  life  1  never  favv  fuch  ugly  creatures  as  thefe; 
whereat  the  Apes  being  inraged,  they  all  fell  upon 
him  together,  one  biting  him  by  the  nofe,  another 
by  the  neck,  and  the  refl  in  other  places,  fo  that 
he  was  forced  to  run  out  with  all  fpeed  to  fave 
his  life  J  and'finding  the  Fox,  related  his  misfor- 
tune to  hin:> :  You  are  well  enough  ferved,  quoth 
he,  fince  you  forgot  my  council,  and  fpoke  truth 

when 


IN    PROSE    AND    VERSE.       123 

when  you  (hould  have  told  lies ;  Do  you  think 
I  had  loft  my  fmelling  and  eye-fight  ?  and  yet  I 
told  the  Ape  that  her  houfe  was  perfumed  with 
fweet  wood,  and  that  I  was  mightily  pleafed  to 
fee  fuch  a  beautiful  lady  have  fuch  a  fine  off-fpring 
of  young  ones  to  keep  up  the  family  ;  upon  which 
the  beft  in  the  houfe  was  (tt  before  m?,  but  dur- 
ing fupper  I  was  very  careful  not  to  fpeak  a  word 
of  truth,  and  hereby  J  was  treated  fo  gallantly, 
or  elfe  1  might  have  (larved  as  you  are  like  to  do 
e'er  you  have  any  relief  from  her, 

T  n  E       M  ORAL. 

Moft  men  are  too  much  pleafed  with  flattery, 
and  nothing  is  more  difobliging  than  to  tell  them 
their  faults,  pr  impartiaHy  to  cenfure  their  adions. 


FABLE       XCIX. 
The     Wolf,    the    F  o  x,     and    the    Ape  s. 

AW  O  L  F  in  winter  almoft  ftarv'd, 
Who   nothing  had  to  eat, 
Neither  could  pofiTibly  contrive 
Provifion  how  to  get. 

Happened  to  meet  a  Fox  who  look'd 

Fat,  and  plump,  and  well. 
That  the  Wolf  cries,  I  prithee  cuz 

But  be  fo  kind,  to  tell 

How 


>24  FABLES 

How  thou  doft  thus  maintain  thyfelf. 
And  art  in  fuch  good  plight ! 

Ah,  quoth  the  Fox,  ihe  Ape's  my  friend^ 
Who  oft  doth  me  invite. 

Into  his  den,  who  nobly  lives, 

Ahd  where  1  need  not  fear. 
To  meet  with  Turkies,  Geefe,  and  Hens, 

And  other  dainty  cheer. 

But  fays  the  Wolf,  can  you  tell  how 

1  may  her  favour  get. 
And  thereby  be  partaker  of 

This  plenteous  ftore  of  meat  ? 

Yes,  uncle,  fays  the  Fox,  if  you 

Can  lye  and  flatter  well. 
But  have  a  care  whatever  you  do. 

The  truth  you  never  telL 

That's  quickly  learnt,  quoth  he,  and  ihex^ 

Into  the  den  he  goes. 
And  cries,  Fob,  what  a  nafty  ftink 

Is  this  offends  my  nofe. 

Then  feeing  how  the  young  Apes  w^rc 

Embraced  by  the  old, 
They  are  the  uglieft  things,  quoth  he. 

That  e'er  I  did  behold. 

The  cubs  enrag'd  upon  him  fell. 

And  wounded  him  all  o  er, 
So  that  to  fave  his  life,  with  Ipeed, 

H^  run  out  of  the  door. 


And 


IN  PROSE   AND  VERSE.       125 

And  meeting  with  the  Fox,  he  doss 

His  fad  misfortune  tell. 
Who  cry'd,  you  for  your  folly  do 

Dcferve  it  very  well. 

What  do  you  think  I  could  not  fee. 

And  fmell  as  well  as  you  ? 
Yet  1  the  old  cne  Lady  calTd, 

And  prais'd  the  young  ones  too. 

The       MORAL. 

Moft  men  love  flattery,  and  f^arce 

Can  ever  truly  love, 
Thofe  that  plainly  of  their  fault?. 

Or  vices  them  reprove. 


FABLE       C. 

The    Ape     turned     Carpenter. 

AN  unlucky  Ape  fitting  oppofite  to  a  Car- 
penter's yard,  took  much  notice  how  he 
wrought,  and  v/as  mightily  defirous  to 
imitate  them  difcourfing  thus  with  himfelf;  cer- 
tainly I  could  eafily  be  mafter  of  this  trade  without 
feven  years  flavery  to  learn  it,  as  no  doubt  this  dull 
fellow  hath  had  5  for  I  am  of  opinion  that  it  is 
only  for  want  of  pradice,  or  elfe  we  Apes  could 
foon  outfhinc^  men  in  all  arts  and  fciences  -,  and  I 
remember  a  notable  king  in  India  having  taken 
feveral  of  my  elder  brethren,  called  baboons, 
pnfoners,  he  was  refolved  to  put  them  to  plough 

•  and 


126  F    A     B     T.     E     S,     &c: 

and  fow,  and  to  make  foldiers  of  them,  alledging 
that  they  would  not  fpeak,  becaufe  they  were  idle 
and  unwilling  to  work;  well,  I  have  a  great  inch- 
nation  to  try  my  fkill,  but  1  hope,  1  fliall  have 
better  fortune  than  a  nephew  of  mine,  who  living 
in  a  houfe  over  againft  a  Cobler,  and  often  ob- 
ferving  how  he  cut  his  leather  to  pieces  to  foal  his 
fhoes,  when  the  Cobler  was  abfenC,  he  leaps  into 
his  ftall,  and  ftrives  to  imitate  him,  who  returning 
and  finding  his  leather  all  mangled  and  fpoiled, 
refolved  to  be  revenged  ;  and  one  day  when  he 
faw  my  coufia  Pug  look  earneftly  at  him,  he  took 
up  his  fharp  cutting  knife,  and  drew  it  over  his 
throat  divers  times,  aad  then  going  away,  my 
filly  kinfman  fkipped  inftantly  into  his  (hop,  and 
taking  his  knife,  thinking  to  do  the  fame,  he  cut 
his  own  throat  therewith  and  died,  but  Til  take 
more  care  ;  and  fo  getting  into  the  Carpenter's 
yard  he  began  to  handle  his  tools,  and  to  fplit 
wood  therewith,  but  on  a  (uddtn  his  foot  was 
catch'd  in  a  cleft-piece  of  board,  and  held  fo  faft, 
that  he  could  not  ftir,  but  crying  out,  the  Car- 
penter came,  and  perceiving  his  foliy,  with  many 
icofts  and  blows  difmift  him.  This  comes  of  it 
quoth  the  Ape  to  be  over  conceited  of  one's  own 
wit,  but  now  I  find  it  is  not  fo  eafy  to  be  a  work- 
man  as  I  at  firll  imagined. 

The      moral. 

Some  perfons  have  fo  great  an  opinion  of  their 
own  ingenuity,  as  to  imagine  they  can  fcon  attain 
to  the  mod  curious  inventions j,  but  upon  trial, 
there  appears  more  difficulty  and  danger  than  they 
could  poffibiy  forefee.  FABLE 


FABLE        CI. 
The     drone    and -the    SPIDER." 

In     Imitation     of     Mr.     GAY, 

/\    S,  ban ifli'd  from  th*  induftrious  hive, 
jfj^    A  Drone,  defpairing  now  to  live. 
Traversed  with  mournful  hum  the  air. 
He  fell  into  a  Spider's   fnare. 
In  hopes  to  break  the  flender  chain, 
His  wings  he  (hook,  but  fhook  in  vain  : 
The  more  he  ftrove,  entangled  more, 
He  gave  the  fruitlefs  labour  o'er. 

Ah,   moft  unhappy  Drone,   he  cry'd  j 
The  means  of  life  v/ere  firft  deny'd  j 
The  cruel  honey-making  weal 
Drove  me  all  helplefs  from  the  cell : 
And  now,  of  liberty  bereft, 
I'm  to  a  Spider's  mercy  left ! 

Bat  all  mufl:  die,  or  foon  or  late  ; 

With  patience  I  fubmit  to  fate. 

The  Spider  lurk'd  unheeded  by. 
And  heard  the  fad  foliloquy  ; 
Then  ruflhing  on  his  Captive,  faid  -, 
Shall  abjedl  cowards  patience  plead  ? 
Had  that  firm  virtue  fteel'd  your  bread. 
With  freedom  you  had  yet  been  bleft  j 
Where  induftry  preferment  meets, 
Had  (har*d  the  toil,  and  (hai'd  the  fweets. 

Obferve 


laS    The   DRONE    and    SPIDER; 

Obferve  this  web— What  happy  art* 
The  fabrick  fliews  in  ev'ry  part ! 
View  well  the  texture  and  defign  j 
What  fi!k  was  ever  half  fo  fine  1 
With  what  exaftnefs  too  decreafe 
The  circles  regularly  lefs ! 
Thro'  each  the  parting  rays   extend. 
And  all  the  curious  frame  fufpend. 

This  common  centre  is  my  throne  2 
The  mechanifm  all  my  own  : 
Myfelf  from  out  thefe  bowels  drew 
The  fubtle  film,  and  fpun  the  clue. 
How  difFVent  is  your  cafe  and  mine  ! 
Defpis'd,  exploded,  you  repine  ; 
While  1,  difdaining  to  depend. 
Find  in  myfelf  a  real  friend. 

He  fpoke,  the  Drone,  his  lawful  pri^e. 
Unfit  to  live,  unpity'd  dies. 


FABLE 


FABLE        CIL 

P  L  U  T  U  S,  C  U  P  I  D,  and  the  FARMER, 
by  the  late  Enfign,  John  Wilcocks? 
of  the  Britifh  Army. 

npHE  moon  was  bright,  the  Ikies  ferene, 
•■*     And  not  a  cloud  \vas  to  be  fecn, 
Hufh'd  were  the  winds,  and  not  a  breez,© 
Was  heard  to  whifper  thro'  the  trees  5 
A  deep  and  folemn  filence  reign'd. 
The  bird  of  night  alone  complained, 
The  waves  in  melancholy  roar,  •• 

Roird  heaving  to  the  filent  (hore  : 
When    in   a   folitary   wood, 
Near  which  a  lontly  cottage  (lood. 
The  peacefal  dwelling  of  a  fwain, 
Whofc  ibul  was  undifturb'd  by  gain, 
The  god  of  riches,  and  of  love, 
Defcendmg  from  the  courts  of  Jove, 
Together  met,   beneath  an  c?k, 
When  thus,  the  god  of  riches  fpoke. 

Whence  is  it  boy,  that  with  thy  dart^ 
Thou  canft  enflame  each  mortal  heart. 
Kindle  in  Jove  a-foft  defire. 
And  fct  the  god  of  war  on  fire  ! 
All  own  the  mighty  powV  of  love, 
On  earth  below,    in  heav'n  above, 
Whilft:  mortals  only   worfhip  me. 
Immortals  humbly  bow  to  thee. 
E'en  birds  and  hearts,  and  filli  defpifc. 
And  men  alone  my  treaiure  prize  : 

R  Nor 


13b        P  L  U  T  U  S,     C  IT  P  I  D, 

Nor  would  I  Cupid  thus  complain. 

If  I  o'er  man  could  wholly  reign  : 

But  oft  the  human  foul  I  find, 

To  wifdom  more  than  gold  inclined  5 

Not  very  oft  I  mufl  confefs, 

But  yet  my  influence  feems  the  lefs. 

Alas !  with  me,  it  is  the  fame. 
The  wife  I  feldom  can  enflame  : 
Cupid  replies, — And  oft  my  dart. 
Is  ufelefs  thrown  againft  their  heart: 
In  yon  lone  cottage  lives  a  fwain. 
Whom  long  iVe  fought  to  wound  in  vain , 
He  baffles  my  moft  wily  arts. 
Is  proof  2gainft  my  kecnefl  darts  3 
Unm'jv'd  would  view  e'en  Sylvia's  charms. 
Nor  wi(h  to  clafp  her  in  his  arms. 
This  fwain  when  evening  (hades  pervade^ 
And  murky  twilight  fills  the  glade. 
When  finifh*d  is  his  rural  toil, 
O'er  books  con  fumes  the  midnight  oil. 
In  books  alone  he  hopes  to  find, 
Inftrudions  for  the  human  mind  -, 
He  does  my  utmofl  pow'r  defy. 
Do  you  the  force  of  riches  try. 

Agreed  fays  Plutus,  Vm  content, 
And  ftraitways  to  the  cottage  went : 
Whilfl  Cupid  to  the  town  departs 
On  beaux  and  belles  to  try  his  darts. 

The  (liepherd  in  bis  homely  cott^ 
Tuft  o'er  tne  fire  had  hung  his  pot. 


i 


And 


AND  THE   farmer;     131 

And  feated  in  his  elbow  chair, 
Unknown  to  envy  or  to  care, 
But  with  fweet  peace  and  quiet  bleft. 
Was  fondling  of  his  favorite  gueft. 
His  faithful  dog  who  us'd  to  keep, 
Or  find  when  loft,  a  ftraggling  fheep  : 
And  purring  in  the  corner  fat. 
Gravely  dtmure  his  aged  cat. 
Whilft  thus  employed — as  oft  before. 
The  God  arrives  and  taps  the  door ; 
Loud  bark'd  the  dog,  the  (hepherd  cries, 
Whofe  there  ?  A  friend,  the  god  replies. 

Friendship  profeft,  an't  worth  a  pin. 
He  fays,   but  let  his  godfliip  in. 

When,  thus  our  god  the  Twain  addrefs'd, 
I  come  this  night  to  be  thy  gueft  : 
You're  welcome  friend,  come  pray  fit  down. 
Is  there  aught  ftrange  ?   What  news  in  town? 
Be  not  furpris'd,  but  fliepherd  know. 
That  I'm  the  god,  who  wealth  beftow. 
Then  be  advis'd,  my  council  take, 
Hafte  to  the  town,  your  fortune  make  ! 
Get  rich  my  friend,  you'll  find  in  treafure, 
Confifts  the  trueft  worldly  pleafure ; 
ril  crown  your  wiflies  with  fuccefs. 
And  all  your  undertakings  blcfs. 

But  will  you  give  me  peace  of  mind  ? 
Or  jGball  1  fweet  contentment  find  ? 


Contentment  1 


r        PLUTUS,    CUPID,    &c, 

Contentment !  poh  !  'tis  pauUry  ftufF^ 
Get  richej,  man,  and  that's  enough  ! 
No— riches^  breed  a  thoufand  fears, 
A  thoufand  woes,  a  thourand  cares, 
Whilft  in  this  lonely  Tate  retreat, 
]  live  fecure,  my  joy^  compleat, 
I  afk  no  more  from  heav'n  than  this. 
My  books  afford  me  real  blifs. 
In  them  I  read  and  know  mankind. 
They  both  itillrud  and  pleaie  the  mind, 
I've  all  I  afk  5  thus  fpoke  the  fwain. 
And  'twould  be  impious  to  complain, 
Wifdom  ihall  ever  be  my  guide, 
Oer  al^  my  actions  (hall  prefide. 
What  ever  wildom  fays  is  right. 
In  that  aione  I'll  tak^  delight. 

The  angry  god  aftonifti'd  heard, 
Frown*d  on  the  iwain  and  difappear*d^ 


FABLE 


FABLE        CIIL 

The     fop,     the      COCK,     and 
THE      DIAMOND. 

By    Mr.     H.     G  R  E  V  I  L  L  E. 

\^EASE,  erring  man,  nor  nature  blame, 
'Tis  not  from  her  thy  misVy  came; 
Her  wants  are  few,  and  thofe  wc  find 
Suftain  the  blifs  of  human  kind. 
They're  all  fupply'd  with  eafe,  and  hence 
Firft  flows  the  meaner  joys  of  fenfc  : 
Their  aim  yet  nobler,  next  they  prove 
The  fource  of  bounty  and  of  love  : 
And  laft,  from  love  and  bounty  flow 
The  noblefl  joys  that  minds  can  know  : 

But  vice,  in  men  of  wanton  heart. 
Soon  forg'd  the  various  wants  of  art. 
And  thefc  indeed  are  treacherous  things ; 
From  thele  inveterate  evil  fprings. 
Thefe  (more  than  man  can  e'er  fupply, 
Exempt  from  toil  and  mi(ery) 
Supply 'd,  the  joy  is  tranfient,  vain. 
And  not  fupply'd,  fincere  the  pain. 
Hence  Care  his  iron  reign  began. 
The  creature  and  the  curfe  of  man  : 
This  truth  that  ev'ry  head  may  reach, 
A  tale  in  ea(y  ftrains  fhall  teach. 
.  'Tis  this : 

A  mortal  not  content 
With  what  for  mankind  nature  meant, 
Tho'  fortune  to  his  juft  delire 
<  Had  freely  giv'n  **  meat,  clothes  and  fire. 


ItiU 


134      The     FOP,     the     COCK, 

Sull  reftlefs,  wanted  fomethmg  new, 

And  frantic  fchemes  of  pleafure  drew  j 

To  uie  for  ever  adding  fliow, 

In  fhort,  he  dwindled  to  a  beau. 

Straight  on  his  coat  he  clap'd  gold  lace. 

And  next  with  wafhes  fpoiTd  his  face  5 

But  moft  ot  all  he  prized  his  ring. 

The  deareft,  prettieft,  fparkling  thing  !— * 

*Twas  this  that  gave  him  half  his  air, 

'Twas  this  he  play'd  againft  the  fair ; 

Confcious  of  worth,  Vv^hen  this  was  on, 

He  mcv*d  as  grand  as  Spanifli  Don — 

But  who  can  tell  the  cares  that  ftole 

With  all  thefe  fopp'ries  on  his  foul  f 

To  drefs  at  firll:  the  other  name 

For  hiding  decently  our  fhame. 

He  made  to  fignify  an  grt 

Which  adls  a  clean  contrary  part, 

Which  turn'd  him  on  himfelf  a  foe. 

And  fet  his  follies  out  to  (how ; 

This  coft  him  fo  much  time  and  pain, 

'Twas  happinels'  and  virtue's  bane, 

Bcfides  it  griev*d  his  foul  to  find 

Some  brutes  to  all  his  merit  blind. 

To  flight  him  when  he'd  fpent  a  day 

To  drefs  and  paint  him  for  the  play  1 

'Twas  pungent  grief  fucceeding  care. 

And  more  than  Cat(/s  felf  cou'd  bear  5 

Still  worfe  you'll  think  it,  when  I  tell  ye. 

That  for  his  back  he  pinch'd  his  belly. 

But  ah  1  the  worft  is  Hill  behind  ; 

And  fortune  prov'd  yet  more  unkind  : 

He  loft  the  ring  we  nam'd   before 

And  what  could  fate  to  curfe  him  more  !       It's 


AND       THE       diamond;  135 

It*s  borrowed  rays  withdrawn  that  fed 

Thofe  weeds  his  joys  by  folly  bred. 

As  real  woe  his  heart  deprcft. 

As  ever  heav'd  a  patriot*s  breaft 

He  wept,  he  rav'd,  and  o'er  and  o'er 

His  vitals  ftab*d,  and  ftamp'd,  and  fwore*' 

The  dear  delighting  toy  away. 

No  nnore  he  fparkled  at  the  play, 

Blufti'd  to  be  feen  the  gem  without. 

Where  once  he  threw  its  rays  about. 

Nor  could   his  purfe  afford  to   buy 

What  might  as  well  its  place  fupply.- 

At  length  through  difappointed  pride 

The  wretch  grew  ftupid,  moap'd  and  dy'd. 

Mean  while  the  guiltleis  Diamond  lay 

Safe  from  the  beams  of  rival  day. 

Beneath  a  dunghill's  peaceful  load 

That  fac'd  a  farmer's  bleft  abode, 

And  long  had  there  been  free  from  prate, 

Noife,  nonfenfe,  eflence,  pox,  and  ftate  : 

'Till  once  a  cock  by  hunger  taught, 

Rak'd  out  the  gem  unpiiz'd,   unlbught ; 

For  he  ne  er  turn'd  his  thought  to  find 

The  polifh'd  woes  of  human  kind. 

What  faithful  nature  crav'd  to  gain 

Was  all  he  fought,  nor  fought  in  vain. 

No  fancy 'd  want,  no  diftant  prize 

Had  taught  th'  eternal  iigh  to  rife  : 

Fit  bounds  his  wifhes  all  controul. 

And  fix  the  quiet  of  his  foul. 

In  vain  the  gay  temptation  prov'd. 

His  virtue  fiim  remained  unmov'd  ; 

And  tho*  he  thought  a  gem  might  deck 

As  well  his  tail  as  lady's  neck,  He 


136      T  H  E    F  0  P,    T  H  E    C  O  C  K,   &C/ 

He  fpurn'd  the  fplendid  bait  afide 

With  juft  difdain  and  comely  pride, 

And  fmiling  half  he  thus  expreft 

The  thought  farcaftic  of  his  bread  ; 

Whence  and  what  art  thou,  tawdry  thing? 

From  thee  what  happinefs  can  fpring  ? 

Let  fenfelefs  man  with  antick  pride 

Bid  Pageant  rife,  and  ufe  fubfide. 

We  birds  with  nobler  fapience  bleft. 

Their  pcace-deftroying  arts  deleft  ; 

Two  things  aione  can  give  me  pain. 

Dame  Partlet's  coyneis,  want  of  grain. 

Their  wants  fo  monftrous  grow,  their  joy 

A  thoufand  little  turns  deflroy  5 

A  thoufand  things  muft  all  unite, 

E'er  they   can   tafte  one  hour's  delight. 

Fools'!  all  to  Reafon*s  fcale  reduce. 

Arid  weigh  the  value  to  the  ufe. 

Then  one  full  grain  of  genVous  wheat 

(Ye  powers  how  wholefome,  plump  and  fweet!) 

Will  dearer  prove  by  far  than  all 

The  (liining  nothings  round  the  ball. 

Who  read  this  fable  with  difcerning  mind 

Perhaps  this  plain  advice  imply'd  will  find  : 
Take  freely  all  that  nature's  wants  require. 
But  check  the  firfl  excefs  of  frail  defire. 
For  food  (he  afks,  and  raiment,  we  agree ; 
But  never  afk'd  brocade  or  fricafee— 
Hjwe'er,  what  cuftom  calls  genteel  and  neat. 
That  (if  thy  purie  affords  it)  wear  and.  eat. 
Yet  all  above  thy  friend's  inferior  lot, 
Stili  learn  to  prize  as  tho'  you  priz'd  it  not. 
All  above  thine  with  care  devoutly  (hun. 
Or  be  ambitious,  reftlefs,  and—undone. 

DIOGENES's 


t)    I    O    G    E    N    E    S,     Hi5    Account    of 

ALEXANDER  the  Great, 

making  a  Vilit  to  him. 

Written  near  two  hundred  years  ago.     In  Old  EngUHi  Verfs. 

VJREAT  Alexajider  came  to  fee  my  manfion,  being  a  tanne, 
And  flood  diredlly  oppofite  between  me  and  the  funne. 
Morrow  (quoth  he)  Philofopher,  I  yield  thee  time  of  day 
Marry  (faid  I)  then  Emperour  I  pray  thee  Hand  away, 
For  thou  deprived  mee  of  that  thy  power  hath  not  to  give. 
Nor  all  thy  mighty  fellow  Kings  that  on  earth's  foot-ball  live  : 
Stand  backe,  I  fay,  and  rob  mee  not,  nor  wrong  me  in  my  right ) 
The  funne  would  (hine  upon  mee,  but  thou  tak'll  away  his  light. 

With  this  he  ftept  afide  from'mee,  and  fmiling  did  entreat 

That  I  would  be  a  courtier,  fbr  he  likd  my  conceit. 

He  have  thy  houfe  brought  near  my  court,  I  like  thy  velne  fo  well : 

A  neighbour  very  necre  to  me  I  meane  to  have  thee  dwell. 

If  thou  beftow  that  paine  (quoth  I)  pray  when  thy  worke  is  done. 

Remove  thy  court,  and  carry  that  a  g©od  way  from  my  tunnc, 

I  care  not  for  thy  neighbourhood,  thy  treafure,  tralh  I  hold, 

And  doe  efteeme  my  lantherne  home  as  much  as  all  thy  gold. 

The  coftliefl:  cheere  that  earth  affords,  (take  fea  and  aire  to  boot) 

I  make  farre  lefs  account  thereof,  than  of  a  carret  root. 

For  all  the  robes  upon  thy  backe,  fd  coftely  rich  and  Grange, 

This  plaine  poor  gowne  thou  feelt  mee   weare  thread  bare,  I  will 

not  change. 
For  all  the  pearles  and  precious  flones  that  are  at  thy  command, 
I  will  not  give  this  little  booke  that  hcere  is  in  my  hand. 

For  all  the  countries,  cities,  townes,  and  kingdoms  thou  haft  got, 
I  will  not  give  this  empty  tunne,  for  I  regard  them  not. 
Nay,  if  thou  would'ft  exchange  thy  crowne  for  this  fame  cap  I  weare. 
Or  give  thy  fceptre  for  my  ftafFe,  I  would  not  do't,  I  fweare. 

S  Doitf 


^  ii 


J38      DIOGENES  AND  ALEXANDER; 

Doft  fee  this  tub  ?  I  tell  thee  man,  it  is  my  common-wealth. 

Doft  fee  yon  water  ?  'Tis  the  wine  doth  keep  mee  found  in  health. 

Doft  fee  thefe  roots  that  grow  about  the  place  of  my  abode  ? 
Tbefeare  the  dainties  which  I  eat,  my  bak'd,  my  roft,  my  fod. 
Doft  fee  my  fimple  three  foot  ftoole  ?    It  is  my  chaire  of  ftate. 
Doft  fee  my  poore  plaine  wooden  difti  ?  It  is  my  filver  plate. 
Doft  fee  my  wardrob  ?  Then  behold  this  patched  feamrent  gowne. 
Doft  fee  yon  matt  and  buU-rulhes  ?  Why  they're  my  bed  of  downe. 
Thou  call'ft  me  poore  and  beggerly  ;  alas,  good  careful  King, 
When  thou  art  often  /ighing  fad,  I  cheerefull  fit  and  fing. 
Content  dwells  not  in  palaces,  and  courts  of  mighty  men  : 
For  if  it  did,  affure  thy  felfe  I  would  turn  courtier  then. 

No,  Alexander,  thu'rt  deceived,  to  cenfure  on  me  fo,     ^ 

That  I  my  fweet  contented  life  for  troubles  will  forgoe. 

Of  a  repofed  life,  *tis  I  can  make  a  juft  report. 

That  have  morevertues  in  my  tunne,  than  are  in  all  thy  court. 

For  what  yeelds  that  but  vanities,  ambition,  envie,  pride, 

Opprefiion,  wrongs,  and  cruehie  ?  Nay,  every  thing  befide. 

Thefe  are  not  fit  for  my  company.  He  rather  dwell  thusodde : 

•  Who  ever  walks  amongft  (harp  thornes,  had  need  to  go  well  fhod  :> 

On  mighty  men  I  cannot  fawne^^Iet  flatterie  crouch  and  creepe  : 

The  world  is  naught,  and  thati^.an's  wife,   left  leage  with  it  doth 

keepe. 
A  crowne  is  heavy  wearing.  King,  it  makes  thy  head  to  ake  : 
Great  Alexander,  great  accounts  thy  greatncffe  hath  to  make. 

Who  feeketh  reft,  and  for  the  fame  doth  to  thy  court  repaire. 

Is  wife  like  him  that  in  an  egge  doth  feeke  to  find  an  hare. 

If  thou  hadft  all  the  world  thine  owne,  that  world  would  not  fuffice  : 

Thou  art  an  eagle  (mighty  man)  and  eagles  catch  no  flies. 

I  like  thee  for  thy  patience  well,  which  thou  doft  fhow  to  heare  mee  : 

Jle  teach  thee  fomevvhat  for  thy  paines,  draw  but  a  little  neere  mee. 

Some  honeft  proverbs  that  I  have,  upon  thee  He  bertow  : 

Thou  didft  not  come  fo  wife  to  mee,  as  thou  art  like  to  goe. 

The 


The   Proverbs   of  DI  OG  EN  E  S. 

In  Old  Englifh   Ver.e. 

Xl  E  iJiat  performes  not  what  he  ought,  but  doth  the  fame  negled. 

Let  hJm  be  fure  not  to  receive  the  thing  he  doth  expedl. 

When  once  the  tall  and  lofty  tree  unto  the  ground  doth  fall. 

Why  every  Peafant  hath  an  axe  to  hew  his  boughs  withal!. 

He  that  for  vertue  merits  well,  and  yet  doth  nothing  claime, 

A  double  kinde  of  recompence  deferveth  for  the  fame. 

Acquaint  mee  but  with  whom  thou  goeft,  and  thy  companions  tell: 

I  will  rcfolve  thee  what  thou  doft,  \\  hether  ill  done  or  well. 

He  knows  enough  that  knoweth  nought,  if  he  can  fiicnce  keep; 

The  tongue  oft  makes  the  heart  to  figh,  the  eyes  to  waile  and  weepe. 

He  takes  the  beft  and  choifeft  courfe,  of  any  man  doth  live. 

That  takes  good  counfell,  when  his  friend  doth  that  rich  jewell  give. 

Good  horfe  and  bad  (the  rider  fayes)  mull  both  of  them  have  fpurrs  ; 
And  he  is  fure  to  rife  with  fleas,  that  lies  and  lleeps  with  currs. 
He  that  more  kindnelfe  fheweth  thee,  than  thou  art  us'd  unto. 
Either  already  hath  deceiv'd,  or  (horily  means  to  doe. 

Birds  of  a  feather  and  a  kinde,  will  dill  together  flocke  : 
H'd   need  be  very  ftrait  himfelf,  that  doth  the  crooked  mocke. 
X  have  obferv'd  divers  times,  of  all  forts  old  and  young. 
That  he  which  hath  the  lefler  heart  hath  ftiJl  the  bigger  tongue. 

He  that's  a  bad  a  wicked  man,  appearing  good  to  th'  eye. 

May  do  thee  many  thoufand  wrongs,  which  thou  canll  never  fpic. 

In  prefent  wante  deferre  not  him,  which  doth  thy  help  require  : 

The  water  that  is  farre  ofr  fetcht,  quenthcth  not  neighbours  fire. 

He  that  hath  money  at  his  will,  meat,  drink,  and  leifure  takes :  ' 

But  he  that  lacks  mufi  mend  the  pace,  r.eed  a  good  foot-ma:n  makes* 

He  that  the  office  of  a  friend,  uprightly  doth  refped. 

Mail  firmly  love  his  friend  profeft,  wiiltejault  ard  with  defeft. 


140  The      PROVERBS 

Hs  that  enjoys  a  white  horfe,  and  a  faire  and  dainty  wife, 
Muft  needs  find  often  caufc  by  each  of  difcontent  and  ftrife. 

Chufe  thy  companions  of  the  good,  or  e!fe  converfe  with  none ; 
Rather  than  ill  accompanied  much  better  be  alone. 
"Watch  over  words,  for  frpm  thy  mouth,  there  hath  much  evil  fprung  : 
Its  better  Humble  with  thy  feet,  than  flumble  with  thy  tongue. 
No  outward  habit,  vertue  'tis  that  doth  advance  thy  fame: 
The  golden  bridle  betters  not  a  jade  that  wears  the  fame. 
The  greateft  joys  that  ever  were,  at  length  with  forrow  meets  j 
Tafte  hony  with  thy  fingers  end,  and  furfet  not  on  fweets. 

Ji  liar  can  do  more  than  much,  work  wonders  by  his  lies. 
Turn  mountains  into  mole-hills,  and  turn  elephants  to  flies. 

Children  that  were  unfortunate,  their  parents  always  praife  ; 

And  attribute  all  unthriftinefs  unto  their  forgone  dayes. 

When  ficlcnefs  enters  health's  flrong  hold,  and  life  begins  to  yeeldj 

Man's  fort  of  flefli  to  parley  comes,  and  death  muft  win  the  field. 

The  flatterer  before  thy  face  with  fmiling  lookes  will  ftand, 

Prefeniing  hony  in  his  mouth,  a  rafor  in  his  hand. 

The  truly  noble-minded  loves,  the  bafe  and  fervile  fears : 

Whoever  tels  a  foole  a  tale,  had  necde  to  finde  him  eares. 

To  meddle  much  with  idle  things,  would  vex  a  wife  man's  head  ; 

Tis  labour  and  a  weary  worke,  to  make  a  dogge  his  bed. 

The  worft  whcele  ever  out  of  the  cart,  doth  yeeld  the  greateft  noife ; 
Three  women  make  a  market,  they  have  fufficient  voice. 

Firft  leafe  all  fooles  delire  to  learne,  with  ftedfaft  fixed  eyes  : 

In  this,  all  other  idiots  are,  and  they  exceeding  wife. 

When  once  the  lion  breathlelTe  lies,  whom  all  the  foreft  fear'd. 

The  yery  hares  prefumptuoufly,  will  pull  him  by  the  beard. 

Ceafe  not  to  do  the  good  thou  ought'ft,  though  inconvenience  grow : 

A  wife  man  will  not  feed- time  lofe  for  fear  of  every  crow. 

t 

One  man  can  never  doe  fo  well,  but  fome  man  will  him  blame : 
Tis  vain  to  feeke  to  pleafe  all  men,  Jove  cannot  do  the  fame. 

To 


OF     DIOGENES.  141 

To  Kim  that  is  in  mifery  do  not  affiiflion  adde  : 
With  forrow  to  load  forrowes  backe,  is  moft  extremely  bad. 
^hew  mee  good  fruit  on  evil  tree,  or  rofe  that  growes  on  thiflle : 
ile  undertake  at  fight  thereof,  to  drinke  to  thee  and  whiftle. 
Cenfure  what  confcience  refts  in  him,  that  fweares  he  jufticc  loves  r 
And  yet  doth  pardon  hurtfull  crowes,  to  punifn  fimple  doves. 
Theres  many  that  to  afke  might  have,  but  his  own  filence  croft  : 
What  charge  is  fpeech  unto  thy  tongue  ?  Uy  alking,  pray  whats  loft  / 
He  ferves  for  nothing,  that  is  juft,  and  faithful!  in  his  place  : 
Yet  for  his  duty  well  performed  is  not  a  whit  in  grace. 

He  makes  himfelf  anothers  flave,  and  feares  doe  undergoe. 

That  unto  one  being  ignorant  doth  his  own  fecrets  /how. 

On  Neptune  wrongful!  he  complains,  that  oft  hath  been  in  danger 

And  yet  to  his  devouring  waves,  doth  not  become  a  ftranger. 

Age  is  an  honourable  thing,  and  yet  though  yeeres  be  fo, 

j?or  one  wife  man  with  hoary  haires,  three  dozen  foolcs  I  know. 


THE      END. 


^ 


:N 


D        E 


X. 


A                 A  Page. 

P  E  and  Fox  104 

■Ape  turned  Carpenter  125^ 
B    . 


Bragger 


48 


Camel  50 

Chough  and  Swallow  95 
Cock  and  precious  Stone         I'j 

Cockles  roafling  d^ 

Crow  and  Pigeon  52 

Cuckoo  and  Hawk  1 3 

D 
Daw  and  borrowed  Feathers    79 

Daw  hung  by  the  Foot  5  i 

Daw  and  Pigeons   ,  93 

Dog  and  Shadow    "  26 

Dogs  49 

Dog  and  Wolf  58 

E 

Eagle  and  Fox  9 

Eagle  and  Tortoife  29 

F 

Father  and  his  Sons  95 

Flea  and  a  Man  14 

Flies  in  a  Honey  Pot  38 

Fox  and  Goat  1 1 

Fox  and  Grapes  15 

Fox  and  fick  Lion  87 

Fox  and  Snake  94 


Page. 

Fox  that  loft  his  Tail  97 

Fox  and  Bramble  99 

Fox  and  Cock  20 

Fox  and  Hedge-hog  23 

Fox  and  Hunifman  98 

Fox  and  Crab  53 

Fowler  and  Snake  44 

Frogs  defiring  a  King  73 

Frog  and  an  Ox  80 

G 

Geefe  and  Cranes  89 

Graihopper  and  Pifmires  4® 

H 

Ha^cs  and  Frogs  7S 

Horfe  and  Lion  83 

Hufbandman  and  his  Sons  36 

Hufbandman  and  Serpent  69 
Huibandman  and  the  Wood    82 

Hufbandman  and  a  Stork  91 

Hunted  Beaver  51 

I 

Jupiter  and  a  Belt  21 

K 

Kite,  Hawk,  and  Pigeons  'j^ 

L 
League  betwixt  the  Wolves 

and  Sheep  108 

Lion  grown  old  70 

Lying  Mole  41 

LioD 


N 


E 


X.' 


] 

Page. 

Page 

Lion   and  Moufe 

72 

Sick  Kite 

65 

Lion  in  Love 

105 

Spaniel  and  Afs 

7» 

M 

Swan  and  Goofe 

IZ 

Man  bit  by  a  Dog 

59 

Thieves  breaking  into  a  houf< 

'57 

Man  and  Wooden  God 

100 

Thieves  and  a  Cock 

^l 

Man  and  Serpent 

22 

Trumpeter  taken  Prifoner 

90 

Mercury  and  Carver 

43 

Two  young  Men  and  a  Cook 

%^ 

Mercury  and  a  Traveller 

lOI 

Two  Cocks  a  Fighting 

107 

Miftrefs  and  her  Maid 

59 

V 

Miftrefs  and  her  Maids 

42 

Viper  and  File 

27 

Mountain  in  Labour 

n 

U 

Mule 

46 

Unflcilful  Harper 

56 

Monkey,  Cat,  and  Chefnuts 

1 1 1 

W 

Moufe,  Cock,  and  Cat 

i'5 

Wafps  and  Partridges 

92 

O 

Weafel  and  File 

37 

Old  Man  and  Death 

32 

Wicked  Wretch  undertakes 

Old  Woman  and  Phyfician 

33 

to  beguile  Apollo 

l^ 

Ox  and  Dog  in  a  Manger 

25 

Widow  and  her  Hen 

30 

P    R     S 

Witch 

45 

Pigeon  and  Water  Pot 

62 

Wolf  and  Lamb 

2g 

Reed  and  Olive 

54 

Wolf  and  Sow 

76 

Shepherd  and  Fox 

64 

Wolf  and  Crane 

68 

Shepherd  and  his  Flock 

66 

Wolf  and  Kid 

16 

Sick   Man    making    large 

Wolf,  Kid,  and  Goat 

18 

Promifes 

I02 

Wolf  and  carv'dHead 

24 

Son  and  Mother 
Sow  and  Dog 
Spider  and  Swallow 


47     Woman  and  drunken  Hufband  34 
60     Wolf  and  Mare  1 1  g 

19     Wolf,  the  Fox,  and  the  Apes  1 22 


The  Drone  and  the  Spider.  Fable   101. Page 

Plutus,  Cupid,  and  the  Farmer.  Fable.  102.—. 

The  Fop,  the  Cock,  and  the  Diamond.  Fable   103. 

I^iogenes's  Account  of  Alexander  the  Great  making  a 

Vifit  to  him. 
The  Proverbs  of  Diogenes 


127 
129 

139 


I 


N 


S. 


i 


* 


Philadtlphtay  January  foth.    1777,^ 

Latdy  publiHied,  by  ROBERT  BELL,  in  Third-ftreet, 
Philadelphia,  for  the  ufe  of  fchools,  and  for  the  ufe 
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SELECT    FABLE S 

O     F 

JE       S       O 

AND      OTHER     FABULISTS. 
IN     THREE     BOOKS. 
Containing, 

L      FABLES    FROM    THE    ANTIENTS. 

II.    FABLES    FROM    THE    MODERNS. 

m.  ORIGINAL  FABLES   NEWLY   INVENTED, 

By     ROBEPvT     DO'DSLEY. 


p, 


Is  not  the  earth 


With  'various  li'ving  creatures,  and  the  air 

Repienijhed^    and  all  thoje  at  thy  command 

To  come  and  play  before  thee  ?  Knonveji   thou  not 

Their  la?tguage  and  their  n.vays  P   They  alfo  knotVy 

And  reajon  not  contemptibly  :  ^ujith  thefe 

Find pafiime.  Paradise  Lost,  b.  g.  1.  370, 

N.  B.  .At  faid  BEL  L's,  may  now  be  had,  all  the  new  Publica- 
tions on  the  MiLiTAY  Art  i  Alfo,  a  confiderable  .Variety 
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Mathematics. 


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